SASSA 11 granted bail
THE case against 11 local officials and connections accused of defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) of approximately R34million, has been postponed to 29 October to allow for further investigations.
Their bail applications were heard in the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in a courtroom bursting at the seams as the public scurried to find a seat.
Empangeni Senior
Acting Magistrate, Gabriel Kunene, granted each of the accused bail as ‘the state lacked sufficient evidence to provide adequate reasons as to why their bail should be refused’.
Gabriel Ndlovu (56), Mfaniseni Ngcobo (40), Ntobeko Mlaba (51), Balungile Mkhize-Mdletshe (38), Jennifer Gumede
(47), Lindani Nyawose
(40), Beatrice Shandu
(48), Zoleka Dzanibe (42), Hlakaniphile Behngu
(49), Lindiwe Ngema (56) and Minah Dludla face charges of corruption and fraud after an investigation by the Hawks revealed that they were allegedly involved in swindling millions from SASSA between 2005 and 2008.
Ndlovu, Ngcobo and Gumede further face murder charges.
The three are believed to have intentionally conspired to murder Thembinkosi Dlamini (37), a SASSA Ngwelezana Branch Manager who started an investigation into alleged fraud and corrution. He was assassinated when a group of armed men charged into his office and shot and killed him in June 2008.
Magistrate Kunene asked the defence to reaffirm the amount of bail their clients would be able to afford.
Senior State Advocate Ncedile Dunywa argued for an amount of R25 000, which the defence rejected on the grounds that most of the accused, considering their circumstances, would not be able to raise.
Kunene granted those accused of a schedule 5 offence (corruption and fraud) R5 000 bail each, while the three schedule 6 accused (murder) were granted bail of R10 000 each.
The Hawks are still on the hunt for three more suspects who are believed to be linked to the case.