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(The Post News)- Monapole Daniel Kawang, a former employee at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) in the Free State, lost his bid to be reinstated after being dismissed for running an illegal money-lending scheme within the workplace.
Kawang was dismissed from his position as a specialist machine operator at the Free State National Botanical Gardens on August 16, 2022, for participating in a stokvel that lent money to colleagues at a 50% interest rate.
According to Sanbi’s policy, engaging in money-lending schemes within the premises during official working hours is prohibited. The policy states, “An employee shall not commit any deed to the detriment of Sanbi or the discipline or efficiency of Sanbi or allow such deed to be committed.”
Kawang initially lost his case at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) and later appealed to the Labour Court, where he also lost.
An investigation by Mazars Forensic Services in September 2019 found Kawang guilty of lending money to employees at an exorbitant interest rate.
The Department of Trade and Industry published a notice on May 11, 2016, stating that all credit providers involved in lending money must register with the National Credit Regulator (NCR), with a threshold of R0.
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