Four people arrested after trying to register two children who were illegally adopted.

Four people arrested after trying to register two children who were illegally adopted. Photo: @OfficialSASSA / Twitter

Alleged SASSA fraudsters nabbed for illegal child adoption

Four people have been arrested after they tried to register two children who were illegally adopted at Home Affairs in Free State

Four people arrested after trying to register two children who were illegally adopted.

Four people arrested after trying to register two children who were illegally adopted. Photo: @OfficialSASSA / Twitter

Four alleged SASSA fraudsters appeared at the Botshabelo magistrate’s court in Free State on Monday, 20 March.

According to Sunday World, the group reportedly visited Home Affairs in Botshabelo on March 17 for late registration applications for two children aged 5 and 15.

Among the suspects are South Africans and Lesotho nationals aged between 29 and 59.

SUSPECTS CAUGHT BY HOME AFFAIRS OFFICIAL

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Daily Sun reported that an official who was assisting them became suspicious and immediately notified the police.

The suspects were arrested.

During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that there is an official from the Department of Health who allegedly recruits foreigners to illegally adopt children.

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CHILDREN ILLEGALLY ADOPTED AND REGISTERED FOR GRANT

The recruited woman would identify children and negotiate with their parents to give consent in exchange for a monetary reward should they agree.

She would take the children to a Home Affairs official who will register them. The children would later be registered for SASSA grants and the suspects would share the money, said the report.

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The suspects will be back in court on Monday, 27 March for bail applications.

The possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out.

SASSA GRANTS

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is a government entity responsible for distributing social grants to more than 18 million South Africans.

You need to be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee in order to qualify for any of the social grants by SASSA.

ALSO READ: SASSA: There is no money to pay GRANTS

SASSA’S SOCIAL GRANTS INCLUDE:

Child Support Grant – R480
Care Dependency Grant – R1,990
Foster Child Grant – R1,070
Disability Grant – R1,990
Grant in Aid – R480
Older Person’s Grant – R1,990 and 75 years the grant R2,010
War Veteran’s Grant – R2,010
Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant – R350

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