Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

LEGALLY SPEAKING – UIF problems remain overlooked - And administration of UIF is shocking

Loading player...
GUEST - Michael Bagraim, Labour Law Expert

The administration of the Unemployment Insurance Fund is shocking. That’s according to labour lawyer Michael Bagraim. He says hundreds of individuals are still waiting for their UIF claims to be processed, some of which stretch all the way back to the COVID-19 period. Getting through to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is “like banging your head against a brick wall”.

This is how one frustrated claimant who applied for benefits over a year ago with no luck feels. At a meeting of the parliamentary portfolio committee on employment & labour on March 30 I was astonished to hear a glowing report from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner about how well the fund has done. I tried to explain to the commissioner and employment & labour minister that I receive dozens of complaints every day about the fund’s inability to administer properly the thousands of claims it receives. I described the report as lies, damn lies and statistics.
27 Sep 2023 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

What South Africans refuse to cut from their personal budgets

Ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Budget Speech on 25 February, new research suggests that while policymakers debate deficits and growth forecasts, South Africans are focused on something far more immediate, what they refuse to cut from their own household budgets. What does this tell us about how households view…
18 Feb 3PM 10 min

Call for Minister Godongwana to increase TFSA limits

More than a decade after their introduction, tax-free investment accounts were designed to encourage South Africans to save, offering a unique opportunity to build long-term wealth without the erosion of tax. Yet, according to Lizl Budhram, Head of Advice at Old Mutual Personal Finance, the current framework is in need…
18 Feb 3PM 15 min

Business Confidence Index (BCI) - January 2026

South Africa’s business confidence remains at levels not seen in more than a decade, according to the latest SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI). The index sits at 131.4 in January 2026, up 11.4 points year-on-year, reflecting optimism among businesses as the country enters a new fiscal year. Joining Gugulethu to…
18 Feb 3PM 12 min

CPI January: Staples ease, meat prices surge

Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB explores why some staples remain deflationary while protein sources surge, how seasonal and structural factors influence prices and what strategies the agricultural sector and policymakers can adopt to stabilise the market and support both producers and consumers.
18 Feb 3PM 13 min

CPI dips in January

South Africa’s inflation rate ticked slightly lower in January 2026, offering modest relief for consumers but masking persistent price pressures in essential categories. Data released by Statistics South Africa shows annual consumer price inflation at 3.5% in January, down from 3.6% in December. On a monthly basis, prices increased by…
18 Feb 3PM 12 min
All episodes