The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is taking a firm stance against payroll fraud by freezing the salaries of 66 employees who failed to verify their identities. This initiative is part of the department’s Ziveze (Reveal Yourself) Campaign, which aims to eliminate Gauteng Health ghost employees and ensure that only legitimate staff members are paid.
Gauteng Health’s Fight Against Ghost Employees
Payroll fraud is a significant global issue, with ghost employees contributing to financial losses in both public and private sectors. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations, payroll fraud—including ghost employees—accounts for approximately 8% of reported occupational fraud cases.
In an effort to curb this fraudulent activity, MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, launched the Ziveze Campaign to verify the department’s 85,642 employees. The verification process ensures that every salary paid corresponds to an actively employed individual within the department.
“We have limited resources at our disposal and cannot afford to waste money on ghost employees while hundreds of healthcare workers are looking for employment and thousands of people require access to healthcare services. There is no reasonable employee who will object to being verified,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
66 Salaries Frozen, More Verifications Underway
As of this week, 66 employees have had their salaries frozen due to their failure to verify their identities. However, these cases exclude others still under investigation. Employees who refuse to undergo verification risk permanent removal from the payroll, with potential criminal charges being opened against them.
The verification process is being conducted in two phases:
- Phase One (14 October – 6 December 2024) successfully verified 31,345 employees.
- Phase Two (commenced 13 January 2025) aims to verify the remaining 54,297 employees. So far, 30,508 employees have been verified, leaving 23,789 employees still to be checked before the 31 March 2025 deadline.
Employees must physically verify their identities at their respective HR offices or designated verification centres. Those who fail to do so will face consequences, including the possibility of permanent salary termination.
Ensuring Accountability and Optimising Healthcare Resources
The Gauteng Health Department has reiterated its commitment to eliminating ghost employees, improving accountability, and preventing fraudulent salary payments. The Ziveze Campaign is designed to ensure that public funds are used responsibly and allocated towards strengthening the healthcare system.
“Through this initiative, the department seeks to improve accountability, prevent fraudulent salary payments and optimise resource allocation for quality healthcare delivery,” said department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.
With thousands of healthcare professionals seeking employment, the elimination of ghost employees will free up crucial funds to hire genuine workers, ensuring better healthcare services for Gauteng residents.
Final Phase of the Ziveze Campaign
As the March 31, 2025, deadline approaches, the Gauteng Health Department urges all employees to verify their identities to avoid salary suspensions. The Ziveze Campaign is a firm step towards eradicating payroll fraud and ensuring that every rand spent contributes to an efficient healthcare system.
By freezing the salaries of unverified employees, the Gauteng Health Department is reinforcing its commitment to financial integrity, transparency, and quality healthcare service delivery.
For updates on the Ziveze Campaign and Gauteng Health policies, stay tuned to official government announcements.
