Public warned against fake job adverts

The Gauteng Department of Health warned members of the public against fake job advertisements that are aimed at exploiting unemployed people who are facing desperate socioeconomic conditions.

Kwara Kekana, spokesperson of the MEC for Health said in the latest scam, an advert has been circulating on social-media platforms asking for 130 people to apply for various fictitious positions at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

According to Kekana, some of the adverts look legitimate until one starts scrutinising the content more closely.

“In the recent advert an unusual call is made for schools around the province to share the message with unemployed residents. The department could not have made such a call in an advert during Level 4 lockdown as this would mean the request could not be implemented, given that schools are closed. Secondly, people are referred to the national website instead of the provincial site.

Furthermore, the scammers used the name of a former employee as the person issuing the advert.”

Kekana added that the Department advertises vacancies through trustworthy platforms such as the Gauteng Online portal, a Department of Public Service and Administration circular which is published on the DPSA website, official social-media platforms, and mainstream newspapers.

“Moreover, employment applications are not faxed; they are either sent via post or dropped off physically at a designated hospital, clinic or any of our facilities in their original form for verification.”

The Department also wishes to warn the public that some of these fake job advertisements ask applicants to pay an amount of money in exchange for employment.

“No money is required to apply for jobs in the public service. We plead with the public to be vigilant at all times and verify job advertisements that are circulated on social-media platforms against those posted on the above-mentioned official sites,” Kekana said.