The arrests, which include the division\u2019s commissioner and chief financial officer, have been linked to payroll fraud and the possible presence of ghost workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghost workers are employees who draw salaries and benefits but do not exist, which De Villiers said is not isolated within government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt takes sophisticated collusion to create and maintain these ghost-worker employees, who operate like organised criminal syndicates embedded in our government systems,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Villiers recently told<\/a> Newzroom Afrika that a Department of Public Service presentation demonstrated that it takes at least three people to load a \u201cghost\u201d onto the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he said it takes even more to ensure that the ghost remains on the system and is paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This indicates that ghost workers are one of many symptoms of organised crime within the government, and that behind ghost workers, there are real people siphoning taxpayer money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arrested officials appeared before the Pretoria High Court on fraud and corruption charges related to appointing an unqualified citizen to a senior position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n De Villiers specifically referred to the Secret Services Account, a classified budget used for covert operations and informant payments, which has been flagged as vulnerable to abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said there is reason for concern that taxpayer funds may have been used to fund fabricated operatives or fake intelligence activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is reasonable to expect similar malpractice in payroll management,\u201d De Villiers said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe possibility of irregular appointments, inflated headcounts, and unvetted recruits of \u2018ghost\u2019 employees is high.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n De Villiers called on the National Treasury and the Public Service Commission to conduct an audit in 90 days, focusing on verifying the headcounts and all Secret Service Account payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those arrested were Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the commissioner of the Crime Intelligence Division, and Major General Philani Lushaba, the division\u2019s CFO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Major General Josias Lekalakala, the Gauteng Crime Intelligence Head, and Brigadier Phindile Ncube, head of vetting, also appeared before the Pretoria High Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arrests took place between June and July, and everyone detained was responsible for financial oversight, personnel management, and internal controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Members of the anti-corruption unit nabbed General Khumalo after landing at OR Tambo International Airport on 26 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seven appeared in court on Friday, 27 June and pleaded not guilty to all charges against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time of the arrests, the Democratic Alliance said it was a \u201cstep in rescuing an organisation from the brink of collapse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the Economic Freedom Fighters called Khumalo\u2019s detainment the \u201clatest symptom of a sick and hollowed-out policing system, which urgently requires structural overhaul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nTop brass arrested<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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