ETHEKWINI Municipality has been alerted to a scam where unsuspecting individuals have fallen victim to fraudulent advertisements from a con artist claiming to be a municipal employee.
According to eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Deputy Head, Mandla Nsele, in the latest scam, applicants are told to pay a fee ranging from R150 to R1 500 in order to secure a job at the municipality as either a cleaner, an official for Durban Solid Waste or under the Expanded Public Works Programme.
He said the con artist, known as Amanda, has been sending messages to unsuspecting individuals using WhatsApp saying that after paying the necessary fee at any PEP Store, Rhino, Spar and Cambridge, applicants must visit 13th Floor Shell House in 221 Anton Lembede Street (Smith Street), Durban, to submit their Curriculum Vitae so that they can get a job at the municipality.
“We appeal to the public not to respond to any recruitment advertisements where an applicant is required to pay. Any applicant who pays to secure a job is engaging in an unlawful act. As local government, we wish to clarify that the municipality does not charge the public to apply for any advertised post. The municipality also follows a fair and transparent recruitment process. Our employment policies and practices are committed to developing a multi-cultural and diverse workforce that is non-racist, non-sexist, and non-discriminatory,” said Nsele.
He said to ensure the success of local government, it is critical that stringent recruitment and selection tools are implemented as part of endeavours to employ the right people with the necessary competencies and attributes in order to accelerate service delivery.
“Therefore, the manner in which these recruitment and selection processes are developed and implemented ultimately determines whether the Municipality will have the ability to achieve its set strategic goals and objectives. To this end the municipality is constantly seeking hardworking, innovative and skilled staff to successfully achieve these strategic objectives,” said Nsele.
He said job seekers are urged to follow the correct procedures when applying for a job. Funded and approved vacancies are advertised every second Friday in the Municipality’s Staff Vacancy Circular which is placed on Municipal notice boards, as well as being published in the Municipal publication – eZasegagasini Metro newspaper – and the Municipal website.
Applications can be submitted via email or to the postal address provided in the advertisement.
An interview panel is appointed by the Unit concerned and all applications received by the stipulated deadline date are considered by the panel.
The panel compiles a shortlist of applicants and interviews, and where applicable, tests are conducted to select the successful candidate.
If anyone has been asked to pay a bribe in order to secure a Municipal job, we urge them to report these cases to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit on 0800 202020 and the South African Police Service on 10111
