The Western Cape department of health has warned the public against any illicit job advertisements purporting to be from the department, or asking potential job seekers to pay for a job. The department’s spokesperson Sithembiso Magubane said that a few hospitals have been targeted in this scam namely Helderberg, Valkenberg, Groote Schuur and Lentegeur Hospital.

Magubane said people have been caught unaware and they show up at the hospitals not realising that they have been scammed. Only then do they realise that it was a scam and that it is not an address from the department.

“We don’t have all the information regarding the person in the email address but the matter is being investigated. We cannot confirm whether this person is working for the department or not but we will leave it up to the police to do their job and investigate,” added Magubane.

He has urged the public to be aware of bogus job ads and said that one will only be informed of a job when one has applied and followed all the necessary processes involved.

“If you get a sms like most people do about you winning the lotto or a car if you haven’t applied for a job, you should be suspicious,” said Magubane.

He goes on to add that all government departments follow the same system but it best to check the website www.westerncape.gov.za in order to prevent these kinds of scams from taking place.

Anyone applying for a Western Cape department of health vacancy requires one to download a Z83 form fill it in and send along a copy of one’s curriculum vitae as well as drivers licence and certified copies of certificates if needs be.

Government positions will require applicants to make any payments of any kind when there is an application. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)