Ten suspects, aged between 27 and 58, have been arrested after defrauding the South African Social Services Agency (Sassa).
According to police spokesperson Bonnie Nxumalo, the suspects were arrested on February 13 and 14, 2023, and appeared in the Malmesbury Magistrates Court in the Western Cape this morning.
Investigation
“An investigation by the Hawks began in April 2022 into allegations that individuals defrauded the South African Social Services Agency. It is alleged that individuals from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape submitted false medical documents to apply for disability benefits at the Sassa office in Malmesbury.
“He was allegedly assisted by one of the suspects who was not an employee of Sassa or Health who ‘recruited’ the individual at a cost. The fraudulent activity was carried out with the help of Sassa employees,” Nxumalo said.
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R1.8 million fraud loss
Nxumalo also alleged that Sassa suffered a loss of over R1.8 million due to the fraudulent grant payment.
He also said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.
It happened before
In an unrelated incident – in August 2021, six suspects were also arrested for trespassing and violating the Social Assistance Act.
The suspects, six women – aged between 38 and 55 – appeared in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court in the Free State.
According to the police, he allegedly deceived Sassa by giving him a fake prescription, which allowed him to apply for social assistance.
“It is indicated that the applicant will take the prescription to a local doctor who will write a referral letter to Sassa as a supporting document for the social grant application,” police spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said in a statement at the time.
READ MORE: Six alleged fraudsters Grant Sassa appear in court
Fraud of pensioners
In November last year, two pensioners were arrested on charges of fraud, theft and violation of the Social Assistance Act after receiving grant money while being the sole director of a company that was awarded a tender allegedly worth millions from the police.
Sassa fraud
According to Sindisiwe Seboka, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Sarathamoney Sigamoney (66) and Salamina Khoza (68) appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrates Court for having lied to Sassa.
Sigamoney is accused of defrauding Sassa of more than R123 000 and Khoza of more than R152 000.
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