LIMPOPO – Eight non-qualified South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) beneficiaries, three Nkowankowa Sassa officials and one intermediary will appear in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court soon, to face fraud and corruption charges.
Hawks arrest six more for R300K SASSA disability grant fraud
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Serious Corruption Investigation Unit, assisted by Tzaneen SAPS First Responders, Crime Intelligence Unit and Sassa officials arrested the 12 people, between the ages of 31 and 59, in various parts of Tzaneen on Monday.
Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke, in a statement, said the 12 people were arrested for disability grant fraud and corruption.
“It is believed that between the period of 2018 and 2019, the officials colluded with an intermediary to recruit non-qualified people in the Tzaneen area to register for disability grant at a fee. The Hawks’ investigations revealed that more than 21 people were recruited and paid a R3 500 gratification each,” Maluleke explained.
He said the department suffered a loss of over R300 000 as a result of the illegal activity.
“An investigation to search for other outstanding suspects continues,” he concluded.
Sassa Limpopo’s Regional Manager, Zodwa Mvulane said they have a zero tolerance approach and want to eliminate fraud and corruption linked to disability grants.
A statement by Sassa Limpopo’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Zwannda Kutama, said at the end of December 2020, Sassa suspended 210 778 disability grants nationally, as the extended period for which they were awarded had expired.
“The cost of continuing to pay these grants totalled in excess of 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,” Kutama explained.
Kutama said if, on lapsing of the grant, a citizen is still unable to be employed as a result of the disability or medical condition, he/she needs to re-apply for the grant.
“The re-application requires a new medical assessment, which will confirm whether the condition does warrant a grant,” the statement concluded.
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