MEDICAL DOCTOR, FOMER SASSA ADMINISTRATOR AND ACCOMPLICES ARRESTED FOR SASSA FRAUD
POLOKWANE- The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members have today, 9 February 2023 arrested 15 suspects aged between 28 and 58 in connection with South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) disability grant fraud.
Between June and November 2020, the Jane Furse based medical doctor and the former social grant Administrator at Jane Furse SASSA offices who is now a Ward Councillor allegedly recruited members of the community to apply for a disability grant whereas they were not disabled.
It is further alleged that the doctor would certify on the application forms that the applicants were disabled and the former SASSA Administrator would successfully process the applications. According to the information, the first payments from SASSA to the applicants would be given to the Doctor and the former Administrator to share while the other payments would be for the applicants.
The SASSA officials received a tip off about the fraudulent activities and reported the matter to the Hawks who instituted the investigation. The suspects were arrested during a sting operation, charged and warned to appear before the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 March 2023. Other outstanding suspects including a medical doctor are yet to be arrested.
