​Eight suspects who were arrested last Friday in connection with a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) jobs scam will appear in the Sophiatown Magistrate’s Court this week.

Image by Politicalanalysis.co.za

According to the City of Johannesburg’s Group Forensic and Investigations Service (GFIS), the suspects are alleged to have paid close to R50 000 in exchange for jobs to an unidentified individual and his accomplice who was also arrested on Friday.

The suspects were brazen enough to report for duty at the JMPD offices in Martindale and produced fraudulent JMPD officers’ appointment certificates and fraudulent medical certificates.

The GFIS officials were called to interview the suspects, they then confirmed that the certificates were obtained illegally and they were arrested on the spot. It is unclear at this stage how long this sort of scam has not been going on for.

Responding to the matter, Mayor Herman Mashaba lauded the ongoing collaboration between GFIS, South African Police Service and the Hawks that brings criminals to face the full might of the law.

Referring to the suspects as “parasites” that should be squeezed out from communities, he said “corruption has no place in this administration. The prevalence of employment scams is even more concerning as residents of this city who are seeking work have become easy prey for criminals.”

He reminded residents to take action in protecting their communities by reporting any fraud and corruption activities through the City’s 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587 or visit the GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.