Woman accused of defrauding SASSA has had her case postponed to July. Image: File
Case postponed of woman accused of defrauding SASSA of R120k
A woman is accused of defrauding SASSA by claiming welfare while her company won lucrative R88-million government tenders. Here’s more …
Woman accused of defrauding SASSA has had her case postponed to July. Image: File
A woman accused of defrauding SASSA of more than R120 000 has been postponed to July, reports TimesLive. The South African Social Security Agency is tasked with dispensing monthly welfare to Mzansi’s most vulnerable citizens in our ever-worsening cost-of-living crisis.
We’re talking about old-age pensioners, parents who struggle to support the children in their care, war veterans who have bravely served our country, and the disabled. The money is definitely not earmarked for those who lie on their application and are sole directors of companies receiving government tenders in their millions.
DEFRAUDING SASSA
According to the report, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney (67) was charged with defrauding SASSA. Including contravening the Social Assistance Act, perjury, fraud and theft. She appeared in Pretoria North regional court this Wednesday (17 April 2024). In Sigamoney’s application for a SASSA old-age grant in 2017, she says she hasn’t worked for 20 years.
Between 2017 and 2022, Sigamoney received R123 000 in SASSA old-age pension. However, the issue is all that time she was allegedly the sole director of a company called KJP Traders. This firm was awarded several lucrative tenders amounting to R88 million over the five-year period. Specifically, it provided furniture to the SA Police Service (SAPS). In court, a SAPS colonel testified regarding payments made to KJP Traders.
TOTAL DENIAL
A SASSA employee who helped Sigamoney with her application testified that she did not declare her directorship of KJP Traders. Furthermore, Sigamoney signed and initialed her application, declaring no shareholdings in any companies. Conversely, Sigamoney denied all accusations, saying she had last worked for the company in 2012. She claims her son and daughter-in-law handle all the company’s transactions.
Moreover, adding insult to injury for the state, even after charges were brought against her, Sigamoney continued to receive welfare for a further 16 months. The matter has been postponed to July 29 for further cross-examination.
NEXT READ: FIVE reasons you can be excluded from your 2024 SASSA pension
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