Some of the accused in the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) R260-million fraud and theft case have been found to be living beyond their means, with court revelations showing luxury homes, expensive vehicles, and large cash transactions above their official incomes.
This week, the 11 individuals implicated in the fraud scheme targeting the Sassa appeared at the Lenasia magistrate’s court. They are set to return to court on June 10 for the continuation of their bail application.
Jaden Kenny, listed as accused number 11 in the case, resides in a R2.2-million double-storey home in an affluent Johannesburg suburb.
Despite receiving a modest R27 000 monthly salary as a senior grant administrator at Sassa, Kenny also owns vehicles valued at R1.2-million.
This information is contained in an affidavit and was revealed by investigating officer Lindokuhle Monama, who is opposing the bail application.
Sunday World visited Kenny’s property recently and observed high walls topped with electric fencing securing the house.
The property features a sliding motorised gate, an intercom system, an enclosed swimming pool, and a carport large enough for multiple vehicles.
A white Renault was parked in the yard, and a pile of unopened mail was seen near the gate.
According to Monama’s affidavit, Kenny’s declared assets do not align with her income.
“She is the titleholder of a property valued at R2.2-million, and vehicles are valued at R1.2-million,” Monama said.
“These vehicles were purchased for R420 000. It’s unclear where the accused got the money to acquire the assets, as her gross income is R324 000 per year.”
Household described as private and confidential
Sunday World also visited the Soweto home of another accused, Siphesihle Dlamini.
Her residence is similarly well secured, with a moderately high wall, a sliding gate, and a carport. No vehicles or people could be spotted during the investigation.
In her affidavit for bail, Dlamini claimed to operate a consultation and shuttle services company, earning an additional R30 000 per month on top of her salary at Sassa.
However, Monama disputed this claim, revealing that no such company is registered under her name.
Instead, the only known asset registered in Dlamini’s name is a house she allegedly bought for R340 000 in May 2024. She also owns a car priced at an estimated R150 000.
Neighbours, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of their safety, described Dlamini’s household as “private” and “confidential”.
“An old woman who is a teacher lives in that house with her two children, a young man and a young woman [Dlamini],” said a neighbour.
The neighbour added that the family purchased a Volkswagen Polo in 2024, and the young man acquired a Hyundai i10 earlier in 2025.
“Sometimes the Dlamini family likes to throw parties with their friends from elsewhere. We would see cars parked outside their house, music playing, and smoke that is emitted when people are braaiing,” said the neighbour.
Tip-off from Shoprite Dlamini Junction
Both Kenny and Dlamini are among 11 people arrested in connection with a Sassa fraud syndicate that allegedly operated between August 2024 and March 2025.
The arrests began in February and March following a tip-off from Shoprite Dlamini Junction, where accused number one and two, Shumani Khwerana and Khensani Maluleke, were seen suspiciously withdrawing R6 000 from different tills.
When police arrived and questioned them, Khwerana claimed that her partner and accused number three, Tshilidzi Ramaphosa, had provided the reference numbers.
Ramaphosa, who was waiting in the parking lot, was searched by the police, who found in his possession a Sassa-branded Lenovo laptop, a Futronic fingerprint machine, a power bank, a computer mouse, and a laptop charger.
In his affidavit requesting bail, he failed to list the Volkswagen Polo that the police had searched as an asset.
Under interrogation, Ramaphosa disclosed that he had acquired the reference numbers from the fourth accused, Abenezer Tilahyn, an Ethiopian national who was in the country on a study visa.
Tilahyn makes R10 000 for every car he fixes; he is in charge of household finances, medical bills, and school fees. He also owns R200 000 worth of immovable properties.
Illegal profiles linked to TymeBank cards
According to Monama, Tilahyn was also called to the scene and arrived in a silver Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
Police searched him and discovered a .357 Magnum handgun and six rounds of live ammunition, but he was unable to provide the gun’s licence.
Inside his car, the police also discovered R50 000 in cash, 139 Sassa cards, 57 TymeBank cards, eight FNB cards, and six Wizzit cards.
He told the police that because he owns a business, he has a desktop that generates the card.
“During further investigation and working with Sassa officials and Tyme Bank, it was discovered that four of the TymeBank cards found with accused number four had illegal Sassa profiles linked to them that were created or captured by accused number three.
“Other illegal profiles linked to other TymeBank cards found with accused number four were captured and verified by various Sassa [employees] based at Sassa’s Johannesburg offices,” said Monama.
This led to the arrest of Siphesihle Dlamini, Phiwe Mkhuzangwe, and Paul Bowes, accused five to seven, respectively. They were arrested at Sassa’s Johannesburg office.
Paul Miyambo and Jaden Kenny, accused 10 and 11, turned themselves in, while Phumelele Myeza was taken into custody at her residence.
According to Sassa investigators, “the accused did unlawfully and intentionally access a computer system or computer data to do with the Sassa database and unlawfully and intentionally intercept data from a computer system from Sassa”, Monama stated in reference to the connection between accused numbers 5 through 11.
Flight risk
She is contesting their bail applications, revealing that they had used fake identity documents for the application and verification of the Sassa grants.
This demonstrated the possibility that they would use these forged documents, which were acquired from a Department of Home Affairs employee, and could use these identities to escape, she said.
Investigations showed that at least R677 542 had been stolen from the old-age grants and that R3.8-million had been lost from 41 of the 129 cards that were discovered.
The 11 accused are charged with over 1 300 offences, including theft, fraud, and cybercrime, in relation to the alleged syndicate, which allegedly operated from August 2024 to March 2025, according to the National Prosecuting Authority.
The co-accused include Phiwe Mkhuzangwe (37), Paul Bowes (49), Keamogetswe Ledwaba (49), Phumelele Myeza (37), and Paul Miyambo.
