LIMPOPO – Eight accused, who were arrested in August 2017 during a multi-disciplinary operation by the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, SAPS Burgersfort Crime Prevention and Department of Social Development at Burgersfort Shopping Complex, have been convicted by the Praktiseer Magistrate Court for contravention of Social Service Act 13 of 2004 Sec 20 (1) (3) and National Credit Act 34 of 2005.
Read more: Unlawful Sassa cards found with ‘loan sharks’
According to provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke, the suspects were each sentenced to pay R5 000 or six months imprisonment wholly suspended for five years.
“The Hawks received a tip off about the loan sharks, who were in possession of SASSA beneficiary cards and followed it up. Subsequently, eight loan sharks were arrested for unlawful possession of SASSA beneficiary cards and 328 SASSA beneficiary cards, 432 bank cards,230 identity documents and R65 000 cash were seized,” he explained.
Seven of the suspects between the ages of 29 and 52-years-old were sentenced in December 2017 and the last suspect (58) was sentenced on Tuesday, 16 January.
