Physical verification flags 891 potential ghost workers in public service
A physical verification exercise covering more than 800,000 public-service personnel has flagged 891 potential ghost-worker cases, Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi told Parliament.
Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi announced that 891 potential "ghost workers" were identified since September 2025 through physical verification of over 800 000 civil servants across 131 departments. The real-time employee verification portal, under the National Treasury's control, did not provide results for reporting.
Instead, the Department of Public Service and Administration conducted its own coordinated physical verification exercise based on Circular 36 of 2025. The exercise required all personnel on payrolls to be verified, including interns, special advisors, and others. Departments were responsible for confirming employment status, existence, and payroll information of all personnel.
Chiefs financial officers or delegated officials conducted quality assurance, and heads of departments certified the results before submitting signed reports. Where potential ghost employee cases were identified, departments froze payments pending investigation, corrected or removed payroll records, terminated service, and reported corruption to the police.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana had previously reported over 4 000 "ghost workers" uncovered in an audit of the PERSAL system.
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