TWO employees at Mhlathuze Water have been dismissed after they were found guilty of soliciting and accepting bribes from desperate job seekers in Zululand.
The water utility confirmed on Friday that about R12 000 had been paid by members of the public to two individuals who had promised to arrange jobs for them at the Richards Bay company.
An investigation was instituted by the Mhlathuze Human Resources department after a number of victims went to the company’s head office in Alton in August demanding the employment they were promised.
A case for gross misconduct was opened and both employees were found guilty at the disciplinary hearing and subsequently fired.
‘Seven witnesses testified at the hearing, confirming the same modus operandi by both employees. These are people who were desperate and poor, who would borrow the money and cannot afford to lose any more,’ said Mhlathuze Water Human Resources Manager, Mandla Myeni.
‘Mhlathuze Water urges the public not to get involved in corrupt activities such as this. Solicitation and acceptance of bribes is a crime and Mhlathuze Water will not pay and is not liable to pay any money back to individuals who paid for bribes,’ he said.
Myeni said the company would ‘in no way be involved in the solicitation of money in exchange for employment’.
‘Mhlathuze Water has a fair and firm recruitment policy and these procedures are strictly adhered to. We appeal to the public to report any further incidences involving Mhlathuze to the CEO and Accounting Officer of Mhlathuze Water, AS Makhanya, as well as the police.’
Employees and members of the public can report unlawful or unethical instances to the 24-hour Whistle Blower Hotline on 0800 204310.
