SASSA beneficiaries who use the Postbank white and gold cards have been advised to use the cashback option. Photo: File
SASSA LATEST: Six women arrested for pension fraud
The group of six women is suspected to part of a syndicate that has been defrauding SASSA of grant funding.
SASSA beneficiaries who use the Postbank white and gold cards have been advised to use the cashback option. Photo: File
Six suspects arrested for defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) appeared in the Botshabelo Magistrates Court in the Free State on Tuesday.
Freestate SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the suspects had been charged with fraud and for contraventing the Social Assistance Act.
“The suspects were arrested by the Provincial Organised Crime Task Team after they allegedly defrauded Sassa by providing fraudulent prescription letters which that allowed them to apply for social grants,” Makhele said.
Makhele said that the state had alleged that applicants would take the prescription to a local doctor who would then in turn write a referral letter to SASSA as a supporting document for the social grant application.
Makhele said the six women, who are aged between 38 and 55, were arrested after a fraud case was opened against them in Botshabelo in February 2021.
The suspects, Matshediso Diboka, 44, Limakatso Kobeli, 38, and Selloane Matela, 47, were remanded in custody while Masabata Tlhabang, 49, and Thakane Motopi, 53, were each granted R1000 bail. Dipuo Masitha, 55, will also remain in custody as the court denied her bail due to her previous convictions. The matter was postponed to 12 August 2021 for a formal bail application.
The police have asked the public to provide information on anyone who may have been involved in the syndicate, to contact the Provincial Organised Crime Task Team at 051 507 6622 or to call Crime Stop at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information regarding the syndicate to the police via the MySAPS App.
