44 cases registered – Sassa beneficiaries furious over grants

Amid recent warnings from South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) about fraudsters allegedly selling Sassa cards on social media, beneficiaries are furious about reported fraudulent activities that resulted in at least 44 Limpopo citizens losing their December grants and now being given grocery vouchers to the value of R1 500 each as temporary relief pending investigations.
It is not clear how, but fraudsters seemingly operating from Piet Retief in Mpumalanga and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal gained access to certain beneficiaries’ accounts, cleaning out all available funds.
Polokwane Observer on Tuesday met with two victims of the alleged scam who had gone to collect their vouchers from the agency’s offices in Schoeman Street.
“My mother’s grant was paid in on 28 December but we decided to leave it in her account until the new year. When we attempted to withdraw the funds in the first week of January there was nothing available. After enquiring about the matter at Sassa it was determined that the money had been withdrawn by someone in Newcastle a few days earlier,” Marthie Schonstein said.
Tersia Swart had a similar experience but her account was cleaned out by someone in Piet Retief.
Swart visited the agency to claim her voucher and also apply for a new Sassa card. She was allegedly rudely informed by one of the consultants that her money had been stolen because she hadn’t applied and received her new card. “I told her that was no reason or excuse as beneficiaries have until the end of January to apply for the new cards,” Swart said.
“There is nothing to be done – our money is gone but Sassa offering the affected persons food vouchers worth R1 500 is unacceptable. Not all beneficiaries use their grants to buy food. The money is used to pay bills as well and now we are forced to buy groceries from an allocated store,” she said.
Swart further informed that when she wanted to open a case at Polokwane Police Station she was reportedly advised to do so in Piet Retief where the crime had been committed.
Sassa Limpopo Senior Communications Manager, Zwannda Kutama confirmed that Sassa was well aware of the fraudulent activities. “Most affected beneficiaries were victims of the fraudulent activities seemingly operated from Piet Retief and Newcastle. We have compiled a register and thus far we have 44 beneficiaries on the list who have been affected by the fraudulent activities since the end of December,” Kutama said.
He added that Sassa has since the beginning of the year issued national notices warning beneficiaries about the fraudulent activities and that they should report to a Sassa office immediately if affected.
“We are working closely with the South African Post Office and Police on national level to address the issue. All cases will be thoroughly investigated until we can get to the root of the activities. There are beneficiaries in other provinces who also fell victim but each province is handling its own cases,” Kutama said.
Concerning the food vouchers Kutama said it was a temporary relief to beneficiaries and that Sassa understood that grants are not used for food only. “The issuing of vouchers is regulated by law,” he said.
Provincial Police Communications Head, Motlafela Mojapelo was not aware of the fraudulent activities but said it was unacceptable for Police to refuse a complainant to open a case. “You can open a case anywhere in South Africa but the case will ultimately be investigated by the station having jurisdiction in the area where the crime was committed,” he said.
Attempts to get hold of National Police Spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo were fruitless.

Story: RC Myburgh
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