News / Regional
Ghost workers, Unki mine manager suspended
15 Jun 2012 at 09:17hrs | Views
Unki Mines, has reportedly suspended its senior human resources manager over allegations of paying ghost workers and prejudicing the employer of thousands of dollars.
Sources yesterday told Chronicle that Mr Gwatipedza Zireva, the human resources manager, was suspended about two weeks ago after it was discovered that he had allegedly put hundreds of ghost workers on the company's payroll.
Unki Mines, a subsidiary of Anglo American Corporation, was reportedly losing thousands of dollars paying ghost workers.
Sources said the scam was unearthed early this month following an employees audit exercise resulting in the suspension of Mr Zireva about two weeks ago to pave way for further investigations.
The sources said Unki Mines general manager, Mr Walter Nemassasi, and other senior manage-ment have since been summoned to the mines' headquarters in South Africa over the matter.
Mr Nemassasi confirmed yesterday that he was in South Africa "on company business".
He, however, could neither deny nor confirm the suspension of Mr Zireva over allegations of paying ghost workers.
"What I can confirm is that I am in South Africa on company business but I cannot comment on Mr Zireva's alleged suspension. It will be improper and immature to comment over that issue. You can get in touch with Mr Zireva himself," he said.
Mr Zireva refused to comment over the matter when he was contacted for comment. He referred this reporter back to Mr Nemassasi.
"I can't talk to the media as per the company policy. Go back to Mr Nemassasi for a comment," he said.
Pressed to confirm whether he was at work or not, Mr Zireva became jittery and insisted that this reporter call Mr Nemassasi to comment on his behalf.
When the news crew visited the mine on Wednesday, it was denied entry into the mine plant with the management insisting that the news team should wait for the return of the senior management which was in South Africa on business.
Sources within the company said Mr Max Kona has been appointed to act in Mr Zireva's place.
The sources said the employees audit conducted at the company revealed that the company has been paying hundreds of non-existing employees.
"When the matter was discovered, the human resources office failed to account for the hundreds of ghost workers that were on the payroll. This resulted in the suspension of Mr Zireva," said the source.
The source said the matter was referred to the company directorate in South Africa, which then summoned the company's general manager, Mr Nemassasi, to present a report.
"At the moment, Mr Nemassasi is in South Africa over that issue. We don't know when he and other senior managers are coming back," said the source.
Unki Mines, which is at its final project development stage is expected to mine about 5 000 tonnes of platinum ore per day when it starts operating at full throttle.
The platinum mine which employs 1 650 workers, is scheduled to be fully operational by January next year when it is expected to increase its workforce by another 1 000 workers.
Sources yesterday told Chronicle that Mr Gwatipedza Zireva, the human resources manager, was suspended about two weeks ago after it was discovered that he had allegedly put hundreds of ghost workers on the company's payroll.
Unki Mines, a subsidiary of Anglo American Corporation, was reportedly losing thousands of dollars paying ghost workers.
Sources said the scam was unearthed early this month following an employees audit exercise resulting in the suspension of Mr Zireva about two weeks ago to pave way for further investigations.
The sources said Unki Mines general manager, Mr Walter Nemassasi, and other senior manage-ment have since been summoned to the mines' headquarters in South Africa over the matter.
Mr Nemassasi confirmed yesterday that he was in South Africa "on company business".
He, however, could neither deny nor confirm the suspension of Mr Zireva over allegations of paying ghost workers.
"What I can confirm is that I am in South Africa on company business but I cannot comment on Mr Zireva's alleged suspension. It will be improper and immature to comment over that issue. You can get in touch with Mr Zireva himself," he said.
Mr Zireva refused to comment over the matter when he was contacted for comment. He referred this reporter back to Mr Nemassasi.
"I can't talk to the media as per the company policy. Go back to Mr Nemassasi for a comment," he said.
Pressed to confirm whether he was at work or not, Mr Zireva became jittery and insisted that this reporter call Mr Nemassasi to comment on his behalf.
When the news crew visited the mine on Wednesday, it was denied entry into the mine plant with the management insisting that the news team should wait for the return of the senior management which was in South Africa on business.
Sources within the company said Mr Max Kona has been appointed to act in Mr Zireva's place.
The sources said the employees audit conducted at the company revealed that the company has been paying hundreds of non-existing employees.
"When the matter was discovered, the human resources office failed to account for the hundreds of ghost workers that were on the payroll. This resulted in the suspension of Mr Zireva," said the source.
The source said the matter was referred to the company directorate in South Africa, which then summoned the company's general manager, Mr Nemassasi, to present a report.
"At the moment, Mr Nemassasi is in South Africa over that issue. We don't know when he and other senior managers are coming back," said the source.
Unki Mines, which is at its final project development stage is expected to mine about 5 000 tonnes of platinum ore per day when it starts operating at full throttle.
The platinum mine which employs 1 650 workers, is scheduled to be fully operational by January next year when it is expected to increase its workforce by another 1 000 workers.
Source - TC
