The Gauteng Department of Health has taken a significant step in its ongoing fight against payroll fraud by freezing the salaries of 66 employees.
This move is part of the department’s Ziveze campaign, an initiative designed to weed out ghost workers from its payroll system.
Launched in October 2024, the campaign is set to wrap up at the end of March 2025.
Verification Efforts Still Underway
According to Motalatale Modiba, a spokesperson for the Gauteng Health Department, the verification process has made notable progress.
Of the 85,642 employees initially identified, 31,345 were verified during the first phase of the campaign.
The second phase, which began on January 13, 2025, has so far confirmed an additional 30,508 workers, leaving 23,789 employees still unverified.
“The verification team still has until March 31, 2025, to confirm the remaining employees,” Modiba explained. However, employees who continue to avoid verification face serious consequences, including permanent removal from the payroll and potential criminal charges.
Fighting Fraud in the System
The Ziveze campaign was launched in response to concerns about fraudulent salary payments.
According to the 2022 report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, ghost employees account for 8% of all reported workplace fraud globally.
By verifying each worker, the Gauteng Health Department aims to eliminate this issue and ensure that only legitimate employees receive salaries.
This initiative is also part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability and improve the allocation of resources in healthcare facilities.
“All employees have been urged to verify themselves in person by visiting their facility’s Human Resources office or any designated verification site,” Modiba added.
Consequences for Non-Compliance
While the department has already frozen the salaries of 66 unverified employees, it warns that further action may be taken against those who do not comply with the verification process.
Some cases are still under review, but the department is pushing for full compliance before the March 31 deadline.
“As of February 25, 2025, 66 employees have had their salaries frozen, excluding pending cases,” Modiba confirmed.
The outcome of this campaign will play a critical role in shaping how the department deals with payroll fraud moving forward.
Should Other Departments Follow Suit?
As the Ziveze campaign continues to tackle fraud in the Gauteng Health Department, the question arises: Should other government departments implement similar initiatives? By improving payroll accuracy and accountability, these measures could help prevent fraud across the public sector.