Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, to demand answers on why the disciplinary process against UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping has dragged on for over a year at great expense to the public.
In response to a DA parliamentary question, it was revealed that Maruping has collected R1.413 million in salary while suspended on full pay since September 2024.
His suspension is linked to the unlawful R5 billion Thuja Capital contract, which was pushed through in violation of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). A court has since ruled the deal invalid. The Department has cited Maruping’s failure to conduct due diligence and intimidation of UIF officials who raised concerns as reasons for his suspension.
Despite this, the disciplinary process has moved at snail’s pace.
Evidence was only wrapped up last month, with final arguments due on 12 October 2025 – more than a year after his suspension began.
This follows a familiar pattern: Maruping previously sat at home on full pay between 2020 and 2022 while facing another disciplinary process over irregular spending linked to the Covid-19 TERS scheme. By the time the current case concludes, he will have spent roughly a quarter of his tenure suspended with benefits.
The DA will ask Minister Meth to explain:
- Why this matter has taken so long to finalise.
- Whether the Department has a clear process or timeline for handling disciplinary cases.
- Who is responsible for allowing such costly delays to continue unchecked.
Millions of South Africans are struggling to find work and rely on UIF to survive. They cannot afford to watch their contributions wasted on endless suspensions for executives who should have been held to account long ago.
Regards
Michael Bagraim MP
DA Spokesperson on Employment & Labour