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UIF relief fund will continue payments through to 15th August

Following news last week that the National State of Disaster would be extended to 15th August, the Department of Employment and Labour has said it will extend relief payments as part of the COVID-19 Temporary Employers/Employee Relief Fund, otherwise known as TERS.

Given that minister Thulas Nxesi was admitted to hospital today following a positive test for COVID-19 last week, the announcement was made by deputy minister Boitumelo Booi.

The deputy made the announcement during a Department of Employment and Labour budget vote earlier today.

“I must say, Honourable Members, that it gives me great pleasure to also announce that following due diligence and consultation with the UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] actuaries and in line with the President’s decision to extend the life of the Disaster Management Act until the 15th of August 2020, we have taken a decision to similarly extend the COVID-19 TERS benefit until the 15th of August 2020,” Booi said during a mini-plenary of the National Assembly.

To date the COVID-19 Temporary Employers/ Employee Relief Fund has paid out R34 billion, but there have been delays in getting payments to South Africans. The good news is that these delays are caused by heightened security measures.

The deputy minister added today that law enforcement is on the hunt for those who tried to defraud the UIF.

“The provision of the COVID-19 TERS benefit also required strict financial controls and I am reassured, Honourable Chairperson and Honourable Members, that it was the UIF itself that detected recent attempted fraudulent activities and I am also encouraged by the speedy response of our law enforcement agencies in bringing the culprits to book,” said Booi.

The minister also said that capacity at the UIF call centre has been ramped up to cater to the number of citizens looking for relief.

[Source – SA News] [Image – CC 0 Pixabay]

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