May UIF/Ters applications delayed

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has been unable to capture the May Covid-19 Ters online applications due to connectivity challenges.

It says that its system, which was undergoing a test run since last week, was due to go live on Tuesday, May 26, but a damaged fibre link between the UIF’s offices and the State Information and Technology Agency (SITA) put paid to those plans.

UIF commissioner Teboho Maruping says the fund is doing everything in its power to restore the system.

 “We would like to apologise to all our stakeholders and particularly our clients for this unfortunate turn of events and the resultant delays. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that the problem is resolved today so that we can start processing May applications immediately,” Maruping says.

The UIF says once the link has been restored, it will do all it can to try and catch up on the time lost.

“The UIF’s ICT system development team is on standby to ensure that as soon as the connectivity is re-established the system goes live,” Maruping says.

The UIF added that it will make a public announcement once the system has been restored and is ready to take May applications.

“We have received an avalanche of complaints because of this and we understand how this could be frustrating to our clients and stakeholders. I would like to assure each and every one of those who have been negatively affected that this was beyond our [control] but will try to make up,” Maruping says.

Maruping acknowledges that in the last two months there has been a peak in traffic to the UIF website as a result of lockdown relief applications.

“In general we have managed to keep our heads above water under those circumstances and there is no reason why we will not push ourselves to do our utmost to catch up,” Maruping said.