12 arrested for Sassa grants fraud
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) showed no mercy this week to officials of the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) who allegedly defrauded the agency of hundreds of thousands of rands in fraudulent social grant applications.
The Hawks yesterday said they have arrested 12 suspects, aged between 31 and 59 years, following allegations they defrauded the agency of more than R300 000 in 2018 and 2019.
Hawks Limpopo spokeman Captain Matimba Maluleke said the officials allegedly recruited nonqualified people and processed applications for disability grants in the Tzaneen area.
He said the multidisciplinary operation was conducted by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation team, assisted by SA Police Service first responders, Crime Intelligence and Sassa officials in Tzaneen.
“The alleged incident was reported to the Hawks who started with investigations to unearth the truth. Our investigations revealed that over 21 people were recruited and paid R3 500 gratification each to the officials,” said Maluleke.
“The department suffered a loss of over R300 000 to this crime and the suspects, who included three Nkowankowa Sassa officials, one intermediary and eight nonqualified Sassa beneficiaries will appear in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court soon to face fraud and corruption charges. Investigations for other outstanding suspects continues.”
People who watched when the suspects were arrested cheered with jubilation. “I applied for a disability grant last year without any success. Each time I go to the social grant offices, I was told this and that. I am relieved they are arrested. May the law take its course,” said an elated Josphine Sewape of Mokgoloboto village.
Caroline Mnisi, a mother of three from Dan village who was present during the arrest said: “It is a known secret that Sassa officials are corrupt. When you apply for a child grant, your application will automatically go through.
“But when you apply for an old-age or disability grant, you are likely to spend the whole year without any feedback. Some of us have become part of the furniture in Sassa offices because if you don’t give them ‘a cool drink’ [bribe], they’ll send you from pillar to post.”
Social development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale said there was no place for criminals in the province. “Limpopo is a tourist destination of choice for many tourists in the country and beyond... But if the province becomes a hatching ground for criminals, then we will lose a lot of things, including jobs and local economic growth.”