The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Fraud Management and Compliance Department worked together with the Limpopo Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) to arrest 15 people on 9 February 2023, who were involved in fraud and corruption.
Those arrested included a former Sassa employee, who is currently a Ward Councillor and a medical doctor. They allegedly recruited members of the Jane Furse area who do not have any chronic health conditions to apply for disability grants.
Sassa estimates that the loss could have amounted to R312 480, as the Agency was able to detect the fraud before the grants were processed.
More suspects which include a medical doctor are yet to be arrested in this case.
Sassa says that it has adopted a Zero Tolerance on fraud and corruption and their anti-fraud and corruption strategic approach focuses on fraud and corruption governance, prevention; detection; investigations and corrective actions/ resolutions.
Earlier in February 2023, 17 people including a former Sassa official were found guilty of fraud and other offences by the Bloemfontein Regional Court. These individuals sold fraudulent medical referral forms to members of the public in the Botshabelo area.
During the judgement, one former Sassa official was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
One member of the public who issued fraudulent medical referral letters was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
12 social grant applicants were found guilty and received suspended sentences of three years, wholly suspended for five years. Three grant applicants were also found guilty and fined R60 000 or three years imprisonment, suspended for three years.
Sassa has the following fraud and corruption reporting channels:
- National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701 or 0800601011
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.publicservicecorruptionhotline.org.za
- Free Fax: 0800 204 965
Members of the public are encouraged to report any fraudulent activities at Sassa using those channels.
