TONGA – Members of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, SASSA and SAPS crime intelligence arrested eight current and former SASSA officials in Tonga, Schoemansdal, Umjindi, Kabokweni and Mbombela during an operation on Thursday morning.
According to Mr Jabu Nhlapho, of SASSA Mpumalanga’s Fraud Management and Compliance, the eight allegedly manipulated the system by registering able-bodied people as disabled in order to receive grant money.
After an anonymous tip-off on the fraudulent grants processed, investigation started in December 2015.
Nhlapho said they found no physical files for 260 registered beneficiaries and the fraud amounted to about R5,5 million.
He stated that there is a possibility that their pension money and property will be used to pay back the money and that this measure will serve as a deterrent for other SASSA employees contemplating fraud.
Lungile Magdeline Msimago (47), Nella Silindile Lengwati (32), Phumzile Eunice Makaringe (47), Daisy Sitani Thwala (50), Graham Butini Ndlovu (52), Nomthandazo Rebeccah Nkosi (53), Racheal Skholiwe Khoza (42) and Jane Zandile Nkosi (40) appeared in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court in Tonga on Friday and were granted R2 000 bail each on the condition that they hand over their passports.
Msimango, Lengwati, Thwala and Ndlovu, who are still working at SASSA, must be found at home or workplace whenever they are needed. Makaringe, who was the alleged mastermind and resigned from SASSA in February, as well as Khoza, who apparently had access to capturing the applications for disability grants, verifying and confirming and who was dismissed in 2014 and the two Nkosis, who both previously resigned, must report to their nearest police station once a month.
The case was postponed to May 26 for further investigation.
