SASSA grants

SASSA grant beneficiaries struggling to access payments in time. image. GroundUp

Elderly ladies get SASSA grants but are secretly tender millionaires

The two women were actually directors of companies which received millions in tender payments while earning a SASSA grant.

SASSA grants

SASSA grant beneficiaries struggling to access payments in time. image. GroundUp

Two women milked the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants by successfully applying for pension grants. But they were actually directors of companies which received millions of rands in tenders from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

WOMAN GETS PENSION GRANT WHILE GETTING TENDERS FROM SAPS

The two women worked separately but used the same modus operandi to defraud SASSA.

Salamina Khoza, 68, is accused of defrauding SASSA R152 000 after applying for a pension grant in September 2014.

In her application, she stated that she had no steady source of income. She further painted the story that she survived off R400 per month from selling perishables. Her application was therefore approved, said the National Prosecution Authority’s (NPA) Investigative Directorate (ID) spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said.

But at the time, Khoza was already the sole director of three companies registered on the National Treasury’s central supplier database (CSD).

“The companies are Isasalethu Construction and Office Consumables (Pty) Ltd, Sifikile Furniture and Projects (Pty) Ltd and Siyanqoba Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd.”

Sindisiwe Seboka

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It was found that the three companies were awarded tenders by the SAPS and received money paid by the police service.  

In total, she received R60 million from her three companies between 1 September 2014 and 21 August 2022.

The plot however thickened. It was discovered that Khoza was actually fronting for someone else. The three companies’ beneficial owner is actually Kishene Chetty, Seboka said.

SASSA
The two women claimed from SASSA but cashed a total of R140 million from SAPS tenders. PHOTO: Facebook/South African Police Service

OTHER SASSA GRANT BENEFICIARY CAUGHT AFTER GETTING TENDERS FROM SAPS

Sarathamoney Sigamoney (66) applied for a pension grant in April 2017 stating that she was unemployed for a period of 20 years. Her application was approved and since then, she received R123 000 in grants, said Seboka.

But prior to submitting her SASSA application in Gauteng, Sigamoney had submitted a similar application in KwaZulu-Natal. This application was however declined.

“Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty along with her son Matthew Pillay, KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA,” said Seboka.

Sigamoney’s company, KJP, has cashed in more than R80 million from the South African Police Service furniture contract.

Sigamoney was summoned to the court, said Seboka.

The two women were arraigned at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court. The ID has charged them with perjury, fraud, theft and contravention of the Social Assistance act for receiving the pension grant.

“The case against Sarathamoney Sigamoney has been postponed to 10 February 2023 and she has been granted R5000 bail. She has been notified to hand in her travel documents and to not apply for any new ones. The other case against Salamina Khoza has been postponed to 23 March 2023 for pretrial.”

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