Mpumalanga man sentenced to five years for UIF fraud and corruption

A man from Mpumalanga has been sentenced to five years in prison for fraud and corruption, according to prosecutors. Kwena Mohlala, 42, was convicted on six counts in the Piet Retief Regional Court on Friday. The case began in February 2022 when a Department of Employment and Labour official reported an alleged attempt by Mohlala to recruit them into a fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) scheme.

Mohlala offered the official a share of the proceeds once fraudulent claims were paid. The Hawks carried out an undercover operation on February 18, 2022, where Mohlala was arrested after handing over five fraudulent UIF claim forms to the official. Mohlala was initially granted bail but failed to appear at subsequent court appearances, leading to a warrant for his arrest.

Mohlala pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment for the corruption count and 12 months for each of the five fraud counts, to run concurrently. The court also declared Mohlala unfit to possess a firearm. The Hawks spokesperson welcomed the sentence, emphasizing the impact of corruption and fraud on public confidence and legitimate beneficiaries.