Sassa

Sassa Officials Jailed For Recruiting Able-bodied Persons To Apply For Disability Grants

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has jailed two former officials for disability fraud.This week, the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Solani Agnes Baloyi, 56, and Jacob Manamela, 64, to effective five years’ imprisonment.

Sassa Officials Jailed For Recruiting Able-bodied Persons To Apply For Disability Grants

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According to police, the accused who were stationed at Tzaneen Sassa offices recruited unemployed people in the area to apply for disability grants when they were not disabled.

“The accused successfully processed the applications and made payments to unfit beneficiaries,” said police spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke.

The first payment would go to the officials while the other payments would go to the beneficiaries.

Maluleke Statement

Maluleke said Sassa authorities received a tip-off about the fraudulent activities and contacted Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.In the course of the investigation, the accused were arrested and released on bail until they were found guilty and sentenced.

As a result of these fraudulent activities, the department has suffered a loss of R600,000.

Hawks Provincial Head in Limpopo, Major-General Gopz Govender, said this should serve as a deterrent to other fraudsters who might commit fraud on funds intended for disabled members of the community

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