BAIL GRANTED TO SASSA EMPLOYEES AND CO-ACCUSED IN ALLEGED FRAUD AND THEFT CASE

BAIL GRANTED TO SASSA EMPLOYEES AND CO-ACCUSED IN ALLEGED FRAUD AND THEFT CASE

The Lenasia Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to ten of the eleven accused in the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) fraud and theft case. Bail amounts range between R10,000 and R30,000. The fourth accused, Ethiopian national Abenezer Tilahyn, was denied bail after the court ruled, he posed a flight risk. The matter has been postponed to 2 September 2025 for further investigation. As part of the bail conditions, the accused are required to surrender their travel documents and are prohibited from interfering with the ongoing investigation or any state witnesses.

Shumani Khwerana and his ten co-accused face multiple charges, including cybercrime, fraud, and theft. It is alleged that they orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving the creation of fake SASSA profiles, through which over R4 million was fraudulently deposited and withdrawn at various SASSA pay points. In considering the bail application, the court reviewed affidavits from the investigating officer, Constable Manana, as well as two affidavits from Mazimela Kubeka, a senior internal investigator at SASSA. These documents outlined how the accused were implicated in the alleged crimes. The court found no evidence that the ten accused, excluding Tilahyn, were flight risks or that they would interfere with evidence or the investigation. SASSA confirmed that the implicated employees have been suspended and no longer have access to its systems.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) respects the court’s ruling, which marks only a stage in the legal process. This development does not deter the NPA’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency within the public sector.