ALLEGED mastermind behind the biggest social grant fraud syndicate in the country, Msali Ngcobo (30), was arrested in Scottburgh recently.
He appeared in court on Monday.
In a joint operation between the Hawks, Police Crime Intelligence and the South African Social Security Agency together with a private auditing and accounting firm, 16 others were also arrested nation wide.
Seized during a raid on a property located in Scottburgh – where Ncgobo was arrested – were official equipment and software used to produce fraudulent social grant cards. Spokesman for the Hawks, Major Robert Netshiunda, said that ‘the syndicate operated inter-provincially and that the operation was the biggest one to date’.
More arrests were imminent.
Among the 16 arrested were eight Sassa officials and two Cash Paymaster Services employees. Hawks spokesperson Netshiunda stated that the syndicate allegedly defrauded Sassa of more than R2.3-million which involved more than 200 social grants.
“This syndicate forms part of a broader ongoing criminal investigation involving more than 4 776 fraudulent social grants, amounting to more than R34.7-million,” said Netshiunda.
Another massive bust took place on the South Coast in Amanzimtoti.
A suspect was pounced upon by police and arrested near the ATM, while withdrawing cash. He was found with 36 Sassa cards in his possession – pin codes written on each one.
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