TERS — Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme
TERS — Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme is a R58.0bn public fund announced by the Department of Employment and Labour / UIF under minister Nomakhosazana Meth. It is under investigation. R54.7bn (94.3%) has been disbursed, with R1.9bn flagged for recovery. Of 4 500 000 intended beneficiaries, 4 900 000 (109%) have been reached.
Announced
R58.0bn
Disbursed
R54.7bn
Undisbursed
R0
Flagged / recovered
R1.9bn
Beneficiaries reached: 4 900 000 of 4 500 000 targeted
TERS was activated in March 2020 to pay workers who lost income during COVID-19 lockdowns. The UIF disbursed R54.7 billion to approximately 4.9 million workers through 240,000 employers. The programme was plagued by fraud — deceased persons, ghost employees, and duplicate payments. The SIU identified R8 billion in potentially fraudulent TERS payments. R1.9 billion has been recovered. High-profile cases include payments to government employees who were still receiving salaries and payments to companies with no employees.
The key question
How much TERS money was paid fraudulently and who has been prosecuted?
Official response
The UIF stated in 2025 that R1.9 billion has been recovered from fraudulent TERS claims. The SIU has referred 1,200 matters to the NPA. 47 criminal cases are before courts.
Timeline — 5 tracked events
TERS activated — R40bn initial allocation
Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi activates TERS to support workers during Level 5 lockdown. UIF processes claims through employer portals. Initial allocation of R40 billion rapidly exhausted as lockdown extends.
Department of Employment and Labour press statement →UIF internal audit finds ghost employees and duplicate payments
UIF internal audit identifies payments to deceased persons, duplicate claims for the same employee, and payments to companies that did not qualify. Estimated R2.1 billion in irregular payments identified in first audit sweep.
UIF internal audit findings — tabled to Parliament →SIU investigation finds R8bn in potentially fraudulent TERS payments
SIU reports to Parliament that R8 billion in TERS payments are potentially fraudulent based on analysis of UIF database. Categories include payments to government employees (who were still being paid), payments to shell companies, and inflated salary claims.
SIU Parliamentary briefing February 2021 →Total TERS disbursement confirmed at R54.7bn
UIF confirms final TERS disbursement total of R54.7 billion to 4.9 million workers through 240,000 employers across 18 lockdown payment cycles. Programme formally closed.
UIF TERS final report →R1.9bn recovered — 47 criminal cases before courts
Department of Employment and Labour reports R1.9 billion recovered from fraudulent TERS claims through demand letters, civil recovery and asset forfeiture. 47 criminal matters before various courts. Critics note recovery rate of 23.75% of identified fraud is too slow.
DEL annual performance report 2023/24 →Figures are compiled from official Treasury, AGSA, SIU, SASSA and departmental sources cited in the timeline above. Last updated 1 December 2025. Disbursement figures reflect the most recent public reporting and may lag real-time spending.