The fraud case of a SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) employee and two other accused has been postponed to Thursday for a formal bail application.
Hawks’ spokesperson, Col Katlego Mogale, confirmed the matter. He said Mphekgwana Elisa Modjadji, 59, Lefupane Mahloatlie Mamatome, 58, and Malekutu Walter Ramoshaba, 48, appeared in the Kgapane magistrate’s court in Limpopo on Wednesday. They were charged with fraud following their arrest on Tuesday.
Mogale said between May 26 2021 and December 23, 2021, two community members went to the Sassa offices in Bolobedu, Limpopo, at the Kgapane Office to apply for disability grants.
Fraudulent disability recipients
“The two were given the application forms by one of the Sassa officials. The forms had to be completed by the doctors appointed by the government. These forms were then completed but not approved, as the two ladies did not qualify for disability grants. The forms were then resubmitted with amendments. This enabled the pair to be approved,” said Mogale.
She said the matter was then reported to the police after the capturing clerk suspected foul play. The Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit was tasked with investigating.
“During the investigation, the office of the documents in question was consulted. It was discovered that the handwriting that made the amendments belonged to one of Sassa employees. The case was postponed to tomorrow, 4 July 2024 for a formal bail application,” said Mogale.
More Sassa fraud uncovered in the province
In September last year, media reports said the Hawks in Limpopo arrested two former Sassa officials. They were arrested with nine of their alleged accomplices. The 11 people were arrested in Tzaneen for alleged fraud.
The former Sassa officers allegedly registered their accomplices for disability grants that they did not qualify for. All the arrested suspects appeared in the Tzaneen magistrate’s court.
During 2018, the two former Sassa officials allegedly recruited members of the public to apply for disability grants. This despite the applicants not being disabled. The officials were working as administration clerks.
The fraudulent applications were successfully processed. Thereafter, the first few payments to unlawful beneficiaries were given to the former officials as gratification.
Then, the unlawful beneficiaries continued receiving the grants until it was discovered by Sassa authorities. Authorities reported the matter to the Hawks. The two former officials were previously arrested by the same team in February 2021 for similar offences. They were released on bail.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects committed other similar offences.
