SASSA OFFICIALS APPEAR IN COURT ON ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD

SASSA OFFICIALS APPEAR IN COURT ON ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Nelspruit – Three corrupt SASSA officials in hot soup. Three South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) employees, Martha Ndala (54), Maria Ngwane (50) and Martha Thwala (42), appeared before the Mkobola Magistrate’s Court in Kwaggafontein today, 04 April 2014, on allegations of fraud.

Their appearance follows a joint operation between South African Police Service and SASSA that held Thursday 3 April 2014, where Ndala and Ngwane arrested in KwaMhlanga and Enkangala respectively.

The third suspect, Thwala handed herself over this morning to the police accompanied by her legal representative.

The officials alleged to have colluded with a community member who used as a middle man to go to the community and recruit clients as grant applicants.

The middle man would then take identity documents of the recruited client wherein an application processed and approved by the SASSA officials.

 After the approval, the middle man would inform the client to go and withdraw the money which would be about R3 600 paid in arrears.

 The middle man would then take R3 000 to share with the officials and the client will remain with R600. It was further uncovered that R1 200 would be paid for three consecutive months and the middleman would collect R1 000 and leave the client with R200.

The suspects were granted R2 000 bail each and the case has been postponed to 05 May 2014, for further investigation.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela has applauded the police for the arrest and the Agency for discovering the ill acts by the suspects. He said that this is indicative that crime does not pay. He further said that state officials often become oblivious of the fact that the law will always catch up with their illegal activities.

Lt Gen Ntobela would like to use this opportunity to warn community members who collude with public servants that they arrested and the law will not show them any mercy. He encourages the community to report corrupt government officials