Nomvuzo Melody Kupiso (49) the company director and her business entity appeared before King Williamstown Magistrate’s court on 18 April 2024 for allegations of fraud, forgery and uttering.
Kupiso is the sole director of Khayathi Trading CC company and she was arrested by the East London Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks in collaboration with National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on 18 April 2024.
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On 23 March 2020 during lockdown, the employers were reportedly encouraged to continue paying their workers and later claim from Covid-19 Temporary Employer Relief Scheme (TERS). Kupiso allegedly intentionally and unlawfully lodged a claim from Unemployed Insurance Fund (UIF) on behalf of her employees through her company. The employees are reported to have denied receiving payment from the employer which led to the investigation by Special Investigation Unit (SIU).
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The matter was later referred to the Hawks for a thorough probe. The investigation revealed that indeed Kupiso had intentionally and unlawfully by making the material misrepresentation claim to defraud UIF, where the actual prejudice of an amount of over R200 000 was suffered in a claim of her employees.
Kupiso was ultimately arrested by the investigating team of the Hawks on 18 April 2024 and she made her first court appearance before King Williamstown Magistrates’ court on the same day then later released on R1 500 bail. The matter was then remanded to 30 April 2024 to be transferred to East London Regional.
Cece Smith 
Bongi Sikelo 