South African taxpayers fork out nearly R4 million for UIF boss to sit at home

South African taxpayers have paid nearly R4 million for suspended Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner Teboho Maruping to sit at home across his two periods of suspension.

This was revealed by Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Bagraim, who highlighted that Maruping’s most recent suspension has dragged on for 14 months, costing taxpayers over R2 million.

In response to a written question from Bagraim, Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, revealed that her department is still awaiting a verdict from the chairperson of the UIF board on whether Maruping is guilty or not.

Meth previously said that Maruping had been earning his full annual salary of R1.74 million while on suspension.

This means that since being suspended in September 2024, 14 months ago, Maruping has earned R2.03 million.

His most recent suspension came after he was implicated in the unlawful R5 billion Thuja Capital contract.

The contract promised to create 25,000 jobs. It would have given the UIF a 19% stake in Thuja’s investments.

This would have included a R1 billion investment into an unnamed bank and insurance company, R2.5 billion being given to unemployed individuals to start businesses, and R1.5 billion for providing loans to businesses.

An investigation by Times Live, however, discovered that Thuja Capital had no premises, website, or track record.

The court set the deal aside, ruling it invalid. The Department then suspended Maruping in September for his failure to conduct due diligence and intimidation of UIF officials who raised concerns.

The disciplinary hearing

Meth told Bagraim that the disciplinary hearing against Maruping commenced on 1 November 2024.

However, it was postponed, which his legal team requested to review the evidence prepared by the department.

Once the hearing reconvened, Maruping revealed that his legal team had withdrawn and requested additional time to appoint new legal counsel. This was granted, and the new date was set for 9 December 2024.

Maruping’s new legal team then applied to access documents stored on his laptop, which was in the possession of the department. The Chairperson of the UIF Board granted the request on 21 January 2025.

At this sitting, Maruping requested a plea bargain, which was declined by the Department. Following this, Maruping’s legal representatives withdrew once again.

The hearing then reconvened on 18 February. Once the Commissioner had secured legal counsel, the department proceeded with its case, and its witnesses testified. The matter was then postponed until 16 March.

Meth says that on 16 March, the employer closed its case, and the hearing was postponed until 15 April to allow Maruping to present his case.

However, the hearing could not proceed on this date as Maruping presented a medical certificate citing ill health, and it was postponed until 22 May.

Despite proceeding with his testimony in May, Meth says that he submitted two additional certificates over the next few months, delaying the proceedings until September.

“Following the conclusion of evidence from both parties, the Department submitted its written closing argument on 12 September 2025, while the Commissioner submitted his on 12 October 2025,” Meth said.

“The hearing reconvened on 20 October 2025 for the Chairperson to hear oral closing arguments. A ruling from the Chairperson on whether the Commissioner is guilty or not guilty is currently awaited.”

“The Department is satisfied that a fair and procedurally sound disciplinary process has been conducted,” she added.

Maruping was previously suspended after being implicated in an irregular Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) contract by the Auditor-General of South Africa.

A lengthy Special Investigating Unit investigation found that Maruping had not benefitted from the contract through corrupt or fraudulent means.

However, a disciplinary hearing found Maruping guilty in relation to the irregular appointment of media houses to market Covid-19 TERS.

After nearly two years of suspension, Maruping was reinstated as Commissioner of the UIF.

Ironically, then Department of Employment and Labour Director-General Thobile Lamati said that Maruping’s return would “bring much-needed leadership stability to the UIF and inspire confidence to staff and stakeholders.”