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How couple used over 700 ghost workers to ‘steal’ R26m in Covid-19 UIF funds

Dailydispatch · · 582 words · By Nandi Ntini
Social Media and Public Image Corruption and Fraud Financial Crime
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-19-how-couple-used-over-700-ghost-w…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

14 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5
schedule Pending 4
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
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“A Mpumalanga couple accused of stealing over R26m from the Covid-19 employee relief fund by allegedly claiming money for more than 700 ghost workers has been granted bail of R300,000 each by the Middelburg magistrate’s court.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that a Mpumalanga couple was granted bail of R300,000 each by the Middelburg magistrate's court for allegedly stealing over R26m via ghost workers.
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web search NEUTRAL — A Mpumalanga couple accused of stealing over R26m from the Covid-19 employee relief fund by allegedly claiming money for more than 700 ghost workers has been granted bail of R300,000 each by the Midde…
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-19-how…
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web search NEUTRAL — Msiska and his wife were granted bail of R300,000 each. Bongani Mkhonto was granted bail of R3,000. The three individuals handed themselves over to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit bas…
https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/th…
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web search NEUTRAL — Around 14 people, including several Indian-origin business owners and employees have been charged in a USD 53 million fraud scheme involving a COVID-19 pandemic relief programme in the US state of Tex…
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-americans-among-14-ch…
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“Gladness Msiska, her husband Fumu Mkalira Cifu Msiska, and Gladness’s brother Bongani Zoren Mkhonto appeared in court on Monday facing fraud charges linked to the Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) and UIF scheme.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources identify Fumu Mkalira Msiska, Gladness Msiska Mkhonto, and Bongani Zoran Mkhonto as the individuals facing fraud charges related to TERS and UIF.
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web search NEUTRAL — A 48-year-old Malawian-born permanent South African resident, Fumu Mkalira Msiska; his 48-year-old wife, Gladness Msiska Mkhonto; and his 39-year-old.They face charges related to alleged fraud involvi…
https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/th…
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web search NEUTRAL — According to the South African Police Service, Fumu Mkalira Msiska, a 48-year-old Malawian-born permanent South African resident, his wife Gladness Msiska Mkhonto, and his brother-in-law Bongani Zoran…
https://www.africaninsider.com/news/malawian‑born-businessma…
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web search NEUTRAL — According to IOL, Fumu Mkalira and his wife Gladenss Mkhonto were given R300,000 bail after they were charged with a fraud scheme worth R26.9 million Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme.
https://briefly.co.za/south-africa/242125-malawian-couple-ar…
info
“Mkhonto was released on R3,000 bail.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One specific news source ('Three Accused of COVID-19 TERS Fraud Appear in Middelburg Court') mentions Bongani Mkhonto was granted bail of R3,000. Other provided evidence for this claim (YouTube links) is irrelevant.
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web search NEUTRAL — Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Get the official YouTube app on Android phones and tablets. See what the world is watching -- from the hottest music videos to what’s popular in gaming, fashion, beauty, news, learning and more....
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and…
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 27, 2026 · Experience your favourite YouTube channels, videos and creators in extended reality.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and…
verified
“The matter was postponed to July 20 for further investigations.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant links to a Hong Kong TV show ('COURT!') and general Wikipedia entries on crime and COVID-19, with no mention of a July 20 postponement date for this specific case.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Crime in South Africa includes all violent and non-violent crimes that take place in the country of South Africa, or otherwise within its jurisdiction. When compared to other countries, South Africa h…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_South_Africa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Polícia Judiciária (European Portuguese: [puˈlisjɐ ʒuðiˈsjaɾjɐ]; PJ; English: Judicial Police) is the national criminal investigation police agency of Portugal, focused in fighting serious crimes,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polícia_Judiciária
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article is about the timeline of events during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa which was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that was first recorded in South Africa …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pande…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“the company, A and F Consulting, allegedly unlawfully benefited from the scheme by claiming funds for more than 700 ghost employees and former workers.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the allegation that a company (implied as the suspects' company) claimed funds for more than 700 ghost employees.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The COVID-19 pandemic in Iran has resulted in 7,627,863 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 146,837 deaths. On 19 February 2020, Iran reported its first confirmed cases of infections in Qom. The virus may…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iran
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of Oregon on February 28, 2020. On that day, Governor Kate Brown created a coronavirus response team; on March 8 she declared a state…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Oregon
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 19 March 2023 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Taiwan
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“resulting in an actual loss of R26.9m to the UIF”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explicitly state the actual loss to the UIF was R26.9 million (specifically R26,943,793.19).
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web search NEUTRAL — “The main suspect, who is a director of a construction company, allegedly unduly benefited from the Covid-19 TERS administered through the UIF, resulting in an actual loss of R26.9m to the UIF,” said …
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-19-how…
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web search NEUTRAL — The main suspect, a director of a construction company, allegedly unduly benefited from the COVID-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) administered through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF),…
https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/mpumalanga/th…
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web search NEUTRAL — Trio to appear in court for allegedly defrauding UIF R26 million. Two cops among killed in Limpopo N1 horror crash as arrests made in missing toddler case. The suspects' company allegedly claimed bene…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/hawks-arre…
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“The Hawks said the trio handed themselves over to its serious corruption investigation unit in Mbombela on Sunday”
CORROBORATED
Independent sources confirm the trio handed themselves over to the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Nelspruit/Mbombela on Sunday.
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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of GLADNESS is the quality or state of being glad : happiness and joy. How to use gladness in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladness
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web search NEUTRAL — She was filled with such gladness that she wanted to scream out in joy. He feels a sense of relief and gladness that he has been able to forget all about it. My heart felt such gladness as she sat up,…
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/gladness
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web search NEUTRAL — Define gladness. gladness synonyms, gladness pronunciation, gladness translation, English dictionary definition of gladness. adj. glad·der , glad·dest 1. a. Experiencing or exhibiting joy and pleasure…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/gladness
info
“investigations revealed that the funds were allegedly used to acquire movable and immovable assets valued at over R31m.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim contains irrelevant stories about FBI cases in the US and does not mention the R31m asset valuation for the South African case.
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web search NEUTRAL — Story audio is generated using AI. A Mpumalanga couple accused of stealing over R26m from the Covid-19 employee relief fund by allegedly claiming money for more than 700 ghost workers has been granted…
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-19-how…
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web search NEUTRAL — Escoe is wanted for her alleged role in a $34 million COVID-19 relief funds fraud scheme. Anyone with information on Escoe should call the FBI's Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-woman-wanted-fbi-3…
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web search NEUTRAL — A couple convicted of stealing Covid funds is on the run, the F.B.I. says. Richard Ayvazyan and his wife, Marietta Terabelian, cut their monitoring bracelets and fled in August, the agency said. On Mo…
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/covid-relief-fraud-fug…
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“investigations started in 2022 after authorities uncovered suspicious claims linked to the company during Covid-19 relief fund payouts in 2020.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching to support the specific timeline of investigations starting in 2022.
help
“the AFU froze bank accounts and seized several assets, including a Mercedes V-Class, Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu truck and a front-loader truck.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching to confirm the specific assets seized by the AFU.
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“Properties seized include a seven-room house in Middelburg, Mpumalanga... a house in White River and a flat in Zwartkoppies, Pretoria.”
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“In one post shared in July 2021 on Facebook... she posted a picture of an extravagant meal”
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“Her social media pages contain pictures of herself with prominent personalities, including controversial Malawian pastor and businessman Shepherd Bushiri”
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“In one picture, her husband is at the table with a few people and Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi from 2020 to 2025.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.