Bogus ‘Hawks’ man asks money for bail
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in the province, popularly known as the Hawks, warns the public about a bogus police officer who is extorting money from the families of arrested persons.
This came after a bogus Hawks member claiming to be Colonel Monyela contacted the families of some of the arrested persons and demanded money in exchange to giving their family members bail.
According to the provincial Hawks spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke, the victims had allegedly paid the bogus policeman over R40 000.
“As the DPCI we want to put the record straight that our members are not allowed to call the families of the accused persons and demand money in any way. If you are called by someone claiming to be from the Hawks and demand money, know that you are about to be scammed,” said Maluleke.
Anyone approached by bogus police members is advised to call the nearest police station. Meanwhile, 20 people who were arrested last Monday and Tuesday in connection with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) disability grant fraud and corruption, appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Three Nkowankowa SASSA officials, Stanley Banda (59), Evely Mhlari (51), Cecil Nkuna (46), and an intermediary, Angelinah Morongoa Letswalo (44) were granted R5 000 bail each while the other 16 ineligible SASSA disability grant beneficiaries were granted R2 000 bail each.
Also read: Set days to collect your Covid-19 R350 grant
Their case was postponed to 24 March. Maluleke said the suspects were arrested as part of the multi-disciplinary operation conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit assisted by Tzaneen SAPS First Responders, Crime Intelligence and SASSA officials.
It is alleged that between 2018 and 2019 the SASSA officials colluded with an intermediary to recruit non-qualifying people in the Tzaneen area to register for a disability grant at a fee.
The Hawks investigation revealed that over 21 people were recruited and each allegedly paid R3 500 to corrupt officials to illegally qualify as disability grant beneficiaries.
Maluleke said that SASSA suffered a loss of over R300 000 due to these illegal activities.
“We at SASSA have zero tolerance to fraud and corruption. We are currently working to eliminate fraud and corruption linked to disability grants,” said Zodwa Mvulane, SASSA Limpopo regional executive manager.
Also read: Sassa plan to reduce SRD grant rejection rates
According to SASSA national spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, at the end of December last year, the agency suspended a total of 210 778 disability grants nationally, as the period for which they were awarded had expired.
The cost of continuing to pay these grants totaled about R1, 5 billion.
A disability grant may be awarded as either a permanent grant, which may or may not be subject to a medical review after a certain period of time.
Permanent disability grants are awarded for conditions which impact on the applicant’s ability to work for a period longer than 12 months. If, on lapsing of the grant, the person is still unable to be employed as a result of the disability or medical condition, he or she needs to re-apply for the grant.
This re-application requires a new medical assessment, which will confirm whether the condition does warrant a grant.
