Cops nab duo for defrauding pensioners at SASSA in Bethal
He told her that the money will be available on December 28, 2018. However, the complainant went to Standard Bank in Tsakane on December 18, 2018, to withdraw her social grant at the ATM, but received a printout that the funds were insufficient.
BETHAL – After six cases of fraud were reported and an investigation took place at both Bethal and eMzinoni police stations, two suspects were arrested on charges of fraud.
It is believed that six pensioners were defrauded of their pension money between November and December 2018.
The police smelled a rat when an aged woman reported the crime.
She went to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) at eMzinoni on December 11, 2018, to apply for a social grant and was assisted by Mr Ntokozo Mnguni, who is an official at SASSA.
While helping the pensioner with a questionnaire, Mr Mnguni allegedly asked the victim which PIN number she was going to use and he then activated the card with this PIN number.
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He told her that the money will be available on December 28, 2018. However, the complainant went to Standard Bank in Tsakane on December 18, 2018, to withdraw her social grant at the ATM, but received a printout that the funds were insufficient.
The same day, the victim then inquired at the post office in Tsakane about her pension. She was informed that there were no funds in her SASSA account.
The victim proceeded to the SASSA offices in Tsakane where she was told that the card in her position was not activated and that there were no funds available.
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After the docket was registered for investigation, Bethal and eMzinoni detectives teamed up and handled the investigations of all fraud cases reported involving social grants and pension grants.
The team of investigating officers, with the assistance of forensic analysts from the Forensic Science Laboratory, followed information that was given by the victims.
They found that at these SASSA offices, beneficiaries were defrauded of their pension money to the amount of R22 409. This led to the arrest of two suspects.
The duo appeared in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 26, and are facing charges of fraud. The case has been postponed to August 26.
