R40 000 fine for bogus recruitment agency

The owner of a bogus agency who claimed to be recruiting for the City’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) was found guilty on 16 counts of theft by the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
The suspect (49-year-old Johannes Henning) was given a R40 000 fine or 2 years imprisonment. His condition was that he repays the complainants all the monies that he took from them under the disguise of securing them employment as fire fighters.
Charges were withdrawn against 10 of his co-accused whom he alleged were his employees.
In a statement released by the City of Johannesburg, the suspects were arrested last month by members of the Hawks working with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service unit (GFIS), the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and EMS after scamming hundreds of unsuspecting job seekers.
They were operating from 155 Ilpa House, Commissioner Street in the Johannesburg CBD.
It is alleged that the suspects advertised their services on reputable job seekers websites for different positions in various companies. They demanded R650 from individuals who were looking for employment.
Unsuspecting job seekers would send their cv’s to the company and would then be invited for an interview, where they would try solicit money from them.
Mayor Mashaba encouraged people to report any fraud and corruption activities through our 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587 or visit the GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.