News24 reports that three SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) employees were arrested at their Johannesburg workplace on Friday for allegedly defrauding the organisation by creating fake accounts and withdrawing money.
The employees, all grant administrators, were apprehended as part of a police investigation into a Sassa card fraud syndicate that started in February. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo advised that a thorough investigation had led the police to the Joburg Sassa branch. "From that office alone, we were looking for seven suspects, including the manager. We arrested three grant administrators. Four other workers, including a manager, were absent from work," he indicated, adding that they were all on leave. “The four wanted suspects are known to us. The police are searching for them. We request that they turn themselves in," said Masondo. The three suspects arrested on Friday will appear in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court this week. The arrests come hot on the heels of the arrest of another Sassa employee, his wife, a second woman, and an Ethiopian national at a Shoprite outlet in Dlamini, Soweto, on 4 February. Employees at the store tipped off the police about two women withdrawing cash with multiple Sassa cards. Masondo indicated: “The four suspects were found with R40,000 in cash and more than 150 Sassa and bank cards. They remain in jail after being denied bail by the Lenasia Magistrate's Court.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
- Lees ook, Sassa-werkers van bedrog verdink, by Maroela Media
- As well as, MPs applaud whistleblowers after arrests of Sassa employees for R260 million grant fraud scheme, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page