Ghost staff probed

World Brief

By CHRISTELLE DE JAGER

Unions claim a search for "ghost workers" at the South African Broadcasting Corp. is behind the "payroll verification process" being conducted at the pubcaster since Sunday in which staff have had to produce identification and verify where and when they were appointed to get their pay slips.

Ghost workers are a major problem at several government offices. Former employees who are no longer working at the organization, even some who are dead, remain on the payroll and receive salaries that are channeled to corrupt third parties.

The SABC has 3,500 full-time staff and several thousand freelancers.