Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Teboho Maruping has pocketed R1.4 million in salaries while on precautionary suspension in connection with the unlawful awarding of the R5 billion Thuja Capital contract.

This takes place while Maruping’s disciplinary hearing is still under way. The hearing was instituted last year after he was placed on precautionary suspension in September 2023 with full pay.

Maruping was suspended for his role in the conclusion of the unlawful job creation scheme contract entered into between the UIF and Thuja Holdings.

The contract was declared invalid and set aside by the Pretoria High Court in May 2024 and an appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Appeal in August 2024.

Replying to parliamentary questions from DA MP Michael Bagraim, Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said Maruping was still in the employ of the UIF.

“The official is still employed, and his position is Unemployment Insurance Commissioner,” Meth said.

Meth confirmed that Maruping was still subjected to the disciplinary process.

The charge sheet against Maruping states that the department instituted disciplinary action regarding serious allegations of dishonesty in the performance of his duties, recklessness, and negligence.

This was after the then minister Thulas Nxesi had appointed an independent forensic investigator to investigate reports of the irregular and unlawful conclusion of the UIF-Thuja agreement.

The investigation made serious allegations about Maruping’s involvement in the unlawful conclusion of the UIF-Thuja agreement.

“Your conduct as set out in the forensic report amounts to a breach, not only of your contract of employment, but statutory provisions of the UIF Act,” reads the charge sheet.

In her written response, Meth told Bagraim that the evidence in the disciplinary hearing of Maruping was concluded last month and the final arguments are due next month, a year after his suspension.

“The process of leading evidence in the disciplinary was finalised on 13 August 2025.”

She also said the process now was now at the stage of submission of heads of arguments.

“The said official is expected to submit heads of arguments on the 12 October 2025. Thereafter, on 20 October 2025 the hearing will convene again under the auspices of the chairperson for issuing of the sanction,” Meth said.

Maruping has been on pre-cautionary suspension for 11 months as at the end of August 2025.

“The total value of remuneration for the period on pre-cautionary suspension is R1 413 878,95,” Meth said.

Bagraim noted with concern that the disciplinary process has moved at snail’s pace after evidence was only wrapped up last month and final arguments due next month – more than a year after his suspension began.

“The Democratic Alliance has written to the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, to demand answers on why the disciplinary process against UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping has dragged on for over a year at great expense to the public,” he said.

He said millions of South Africans are struggling to find work and rely on UIF to survive.

“They cannot afford to watch their contributions wasted on endless suspensions for executives who should have been held to account long ago.”

Bagraim said Maruping previously sat at home on full pay between 2020 and 2022 while facing another disciplinary process over irregular spending linked to the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Covid-19 TERS).

“By the time the current case concludes, he will have spent roughly a quarter of his tenure suspended with benefits,” he said.

Maruping had been placed on precautionary suspension to finalise the disciplinary measures against him.

Meth said earlier this year he was found guilty and received a sanction of a final written warning of one month’s suspension without pay for the irregular appointment of media houses to market the Covid-19 TERS.

But, Maruping was found not to have benefitted from Covid-19 TERS either through corrupt or fraudulent means.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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