The UIF has paid about R21.8 million to 165 businesses that were affected by the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu Natal and in Gauteng.
The money benefitted more than 6 000 workers who lost their jobs temporarily or permanently after the unrest which resulted in many businesses torched by angry mobs.
The riots were sparked by the arrests of former President Jacob Zuma after he refused to appear before the Zondo Commission and was charged with contempt of the court and sentenced to two years in prison.
UIF spokesperson Trevor Hattingh said when the unrests occurred, the UIF stepped in to help sustain the livelihoods of 6 644 workers who were negatively impacted with the total payout of R21.8 million.
UIF said despite receiving over 2 000 applications for the Workers Affected by Business Unrest( WABU) it only approved 195.
“Since August 2021 UIF received more than 2 000 WABU applications but only approved 165 after we conducted physical inspections to assess whether the business that applied actually existed.
“We want to put it on record that none of the businesses that benefited from the WABU scheme are immune to scrutiny and for that reason we have instructed our follow the money auditors to go and assess these businesses to ensure that the monies that were paid over to them ended up in the hands of workers. The correct amount thereof,
“To date we have visited 97 companies to verify that payment ended up in the correct hands. We will continue until we have gone through all the companies. Of the 97 companies that have been audited to date we have found that 74 of them are still operating,” he added.
