Business owners and the public should be on the lookout for bogus labour inspectors in the Pretoria area, the labour department announced on Monday.

The department said the culprits were posing as "Mr Smith" and were targeting guest houses.

"They (bogus inspectors) make inspection appointments and charge a certain fee. We are warning the public against these people — a genuine government official would never accept cash payments for any service rendered," said spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi.

The bogus official apparently issues his victims with the false telephone number 012-805 5091 which is actually a fax number for the Mamelodi Labour Centre — and a non-existent mobile phone number 076 424 3610, once he has fleeced them.

A Waverley guest house entrepreneur told labour officials of a visit by "Mr Smith" who offered to assist her with Unemployment Insurance and Compensation registration for a monthly R220 service fee.

"These claims follow another incident where a character — claiming to be a labour official — tried to sell departmental posters and booklets for R1300 to several employers in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria."

The department said in another incident, officials found that an employer had been issued with a fake invoice after making payments to a person claiming to be from "Interactive Labour Consultants".

"As the department is planning to conduct blitz inspections in the hospitality sector throughout the country soon, these criminal activities might have a negative impact on our genuine work. Employers need to be very careful and report any suspicious visits to their workplaces," Sigabi said.

Sapa

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