Three officials of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have been arrested in Joburg central on Friday in connection with a multi-million rand fraud case.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told journalists that majority of the wanted Sassa officials were on at work on Friday.
“We have just arrested three employees of Sassa. We have arrested them for fraud. It is two females and one male. They are all grant administrators here at Sassa,” Masondo spoke to journalists at the social security offices.
“This case started in February. Remember in February we arrested four suspects in Dlamini (Dlamini), it was two females and two males. One of the males is an Ethiopian national. This is after they were found withdrawing money fraudulently at Shoprite, using Sassa cards.”
Masondo said the investigation has continued, which revealed that the fraudsters are working with officials at Sassa.
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He said on Friday, police were swooping for seven Sassa officials but they only managed to get three officials at work. The outstanding officials who are wanted by police include a manager.
The fraud case reportedly amounts to R260 million and involves the work of a complex syndicate.
In March, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, arrested a 42-year-old Sassa grant administrator in Mogwase, North West, on charges of corruption.
“The arrest stems from an incident in December 2024, whereby a 63-year-old victim went to Sassa offices in Mogwase to apply for an old age pension grant. It is alleged that the grant administrator who assisted him demanded the amount of R3,000 before the application could be processed. The victim explained that he did not have the money.
"He was allegedly told by the suspect that he would pay the demanded amount when he receives his first pension pay out in February 2025,” said Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse.
“Reports indicate that the first pension pay out was deposited in the victim's bank account in February 2025, and the suspect demanded the money. The pensioner complied and sent his daughter to go and withdraw R2,000 to pay the suspect who became agitated when the amount she demanded was not paid in full. The victim and his daughter made further arrangements to pay the outstanding amount in the beginning of March 2025.”
The information landed in the ears of a Rustenburg-based Hawks member who responded swiftly and registered an enquiry on the matter for preliminary investigation.
The information was operationalised, which led to the arrest of the suspect soon after receiving the money from the victim.
IOL