Meth Clears Air on UIF System ‘Failure’

Labour Minister assures that all data is safe, asserting that the uFiling shutdown was planned. Picture by smetechguru.co.za

The Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) new online system has successfully processed and paid over 4.5 million claims in its first year, thoroughly debunking recent public panic and misinformation regarding the platform's stability.

Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, clarified the status of the system on Monday, following the permanent closure of the legacy uFiling employee portal on 20 May 2026.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the new UIF Online platform processed and paid 4 558 971 claims between its launch on 1 April 2025 and April 2026. This drastically outperforms the legacy uFiling system, which processed 3 547 006 claims in 2024 and 4 099 522 in 2023.

In the statement, the Ministry also explained that the new platform simplifies and accelerates processing by enabling direct client submissions and real-time tracking.

“The new platform simplifies and accelerates claims processing by enabling direct client submissions, real-time claim tracking, and automated communication throughout the claim lifecycle. Furthermore, it supports a self-service model, eliminating the need for third-party agents to assist clients with the submission of claims.”

Addressing concerns over the sudden shutdown of the old uFiling employee portal last week, Meth explained that the closure followed the successful resolution of long-standing legal and contractual disputes. These legal hurdles had previously prevented the UIF from decommissioning the legacy system.

She gave a strict assurance that no citizen applications were lost during the shutdown. All existing claims submitted via uFiling have been securely stored in a separate database, where they are currently being analysed, verified, and migrated into the new online system.

While the employee portal is now fully decommissioned, the uFiling employer portal remains completely operational for employer registrations, declarations, and contributions.

This remaining component is scheduled to migrate to the new UIF Online platform by August 2026.

To assist users with the transition, the UIF has rolled out a nationwide stakeholder engagement and awareness campaign.

This initiative includes media drives, on-site guidance at Labour Centres, and dedicated call center support.

Said Meth: “As public representatives, we have a responsibility to ensure that the information we share with the public is accurate, factual, and in the interests of nation building.”

She further urged public figures to verify their facts before making statements that could cause unnecessary panic.

“While constructive scrutiny is welcomed, the spread of misinformation and unverified claims can undermine public confidence,” Meth concluded.