Four women, who defrauded Sassa to receive a child support social grants for 11 years, have been sentenced by the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, February 27.

The convicts, Nonhlanhla Madalane (36), Tswarelo Masuku (32), Nelile Shiba (29) and Prudence Nkosi (31), were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each, wholly suspended for five years on condition that they are not found guilty of fraudulent activities during the suspension period.

During the sentencing, the court also ordered the women to pay back the money, lost by Sassa, in instalments.

Madalane was ordered to pay R20 330.64, Masuku R20 238.23, while both Shiba and Nkosi each had to pay back R10 344 in full.

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According to the Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the fraudulent activities dated back to 2012 until they were reported in 2023.

“The convicts colluded with some unknown health workers and received fraudulent proof of unknown children’s birth. They then registered the ghost children with the Department of Home Affairs and acquired birth certificates to gain access to Sassa’s child support grant paid monthly to parents,” Nkosi said.

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Nkosi said a whistle-blower reported the criminal activities to the Public Service Commission. The women were arrested and released on bail in May 2023.