NELSPRUIT – Three officials aged between 30 and 33, from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Piet Retief were nabbed on Thursday on allegations of corruption.
Information at police’s disposal revealed that the officials were allegedly giving fraudulent grant payment cards that were not yet activated to a certain woman. She would pose as a SASSA official, visit beneficiaries at their homes as if she is conducting a verification process of beneficiaries. In the process, she would ask for the SASSA card of the beneficiary and the pin code as if she wants to reset the card.
She would then exchange the cards and give the beneficiary the card that is not activated.
She would also go to the ATMs during payday, wearing SASSA name tag and offer assistance to people whilst exchanging their cards.
The same woman, Ms Thembeni Nene (48) was arrested September 6, 2013, at Piet Retief, after trying to swap cards at the ATM. She had already appeared before the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on September 9, 2013 and she was remanded in custody to Thursday for further investigation. The accused was denied bail and the case was postponed to October 1, 2013.
Further probe revealed that the arrested officials are suspected to have been working hand in hand with Nene and they were apprehended. The police seized more grant payment cards and birth certificates from their offices.
The suspects appeared on Friday, September 13, 2013 at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court.
