PUBLIC NOTICE

Thursday, 20 February 2025

BEWARE OF JOB AND TENDER SCAMS USING POLOKWANE MUNICIPALITY’S NAME

Polokwane Municipality strongly warns members of the public to be cautious of fraudulent job and tender scams being circulated in the Municipality’s name. Unsuspecting individuals and businesses are being targeted by scammers impersonating municipal officials and making false promises regarding employment opportunities and tender awards.

Tender scams

Fraudsters are contacting potential service providers, falsely claiming to represent Polokwane Municipality and offering tender awards in exchange for payments. Names of high-ranking officials, particularly directors and those in supply chain, are falsely used by scammers to make their claims seem legitimate.

Please be advised that:

• The municipality follows strict and transparent Supply Chain Management processes when awarding tenders.
• At no point does the Municipality demand payment from bidders to secure a tender.
• Any request for payment in exchange for tender appointments is fraudulent and should be reported immediately.

Job scams

Similarly, job seekers are receiving fraudulent SMS messages inviting them to interviews and instructing them to contact a certain individual for further details. These scammers make false promises and ask victims to deposit money to secure employment.

Be alert! You are being scammed if:

• You receive an interview invitation via SMS. The municipality does not invite
  candidates for interviews through SMS.
• You are requested to call the sender back on their personal cellphone number. The municipality does not communicate official job interview invitations via private cellphone numbers.
• You are required to make an upfront payment for an interview or job placement. The municipality NEVER requests candidates to pay money in any form for employment opportunities.
• You are invited to an interview for a position you did not apply for. The municipality does not offer jobs to individuals who have not submitted an application or undergone the required recruitment process.

Remember: If you pay a bribe for a job or tender, you are also complicit in fraud and corruption.

Members of the public are urged to stay vigilant and not fall prey to these scams. If you receive any suspicious communication regarding jobs or tenders at Polokwane Municipality, report it immediately to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

End!

ISSUED BY POLOKWANE MUNICIPALITY: COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING UNIT