Job seekers warned about scams
JOBURG – South Africa’s unemployment rate remains exceedingly high which contributes to much of the social tension and anguish experienced on a daily basis. Amidst this, Eskom has warned desperate job seekers about a recruitment scam someone pretends to be an Eskom recruitment agent.
According to Eskom’s spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe, the fraudsters pretend to be recruiters and solicit R1 500 from job seekers in order to secure employment.
“Once payment is received by these ‘recruiters’, would-be employees are then directed to report to the main security entrance gate or reception area at an Eskom building, only to find there are no vacancies or jobs and the supposed agent has also disappeared,” Phasiwe said.
“There are no specific areas where these incidents happen as the cases are scattered. We are aware of cases in the Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal areas. We are aware of three cases that were reported between December last year and January this year.”
He said there was no specific gender that is being targeted and that any member of the public looking for a job could fall victim to the scam. Phasiwe also said with the incidents that Eskom was made aware of, victims were requested to pay between R1 000 and R1500 into a bank account. “It is not the first time we [have] experienced this… [Every] time we go through a recruitment campaign or bursary and learnership campaign, this tends to crop up as well,” Phasiwe said.
Eskom urged the public to desist from engaging with anyone claiming to be an Eskom recruitment agent. Members of the public were reminded that all employment opportunities available from Eskom would be advertised on its own website www.eskom.co.za, and that Eskom would never ask for payment.
To report incidents of fraud, corruption and irregularities involving Eskom, members of the public are requested to call Eskom’s toll-free crime line on 0800 11 27 22 or e-mail investigate@eskom.co.za to report the incident.
