Virginia Phoku (40), is an additional suspect in the Bushbuckridge SASSA grant fraud case. Photo: File/Hawks
Post office teller arrested for SASSA grant fraud
A former Nelspruit post office teller, shared SASSA grant beneficiaries’ information via WhatsApp with colleagues from other branches.
Virginia Phoku (40), is an additional suspect in the Bushbuckridge SASSA grant fraud case. Photo: File/Hawks
The Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court released a post office teller on bail after she was arrested on Monday for SASSA grant fraud.
Virginia Phoku (40), is an additional suspect in the Bushbuckridge South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant fraud, theft and conspiracy to commit fraud case.
POST OFFICE WORKER ARRESTED FOR SASSA GRANT FRAUD
Phoku a post office teller at the Mpundule post office in (Sekhukhune) Limpopo was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Nelspruit on Monday.
“It is alleged that in December 2020, Thandeka Dibakwane (43), a former Nelspruit post office teller, shared SASSA grant beneficiaries’ information via WhatsApp with other colleagues from other branches.
“This was aimed at defrauding money meant for the beneficiaries who were due to receive backdated funds,”
said Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi.
Sekgotodi said Lucia Mashego (39), the Branch Manager of the Shatale post office and Virginia Phoku (40) the branch Manager of the Mpundule post office both performed fraudulent transactions and withdrew the money for their own gain.
She further added that they also re-issued beneficiaries’ cards in order to withdraw further funds.
“During the investigation, it was established that a private person Lizzy Precious Smangele Nyathi (42) was used to withdraw money from different ATM,”
said Sekgotodi.
Dibakwane and Nyathi were arrested on 24 May 2022 and were released on R20 000 bail each. Their case was postponed to 21 July 2022.
Furthermore, Phoku was also released on R20 000 bail by the same court on Monday, her case was postponed to 28 August 2022 for further investigation.
HOME AFFAIRS OFFICIAL SOUGHT BY THE HAWKS
Middelburg Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team are looking for a Home Affairs official for fraud, corruption and contravention of the Immigration Act.
Kagiso Ronny Maboa (38) is sought following an investigation which started in April 2022, said Sekgotodi.
It is alleged that he colluded with a Pakistani Mastermind to facilitate foreign nationals to obtain South African passports fraudulently.
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