More charges for Sassa officials in R260 million grant fraud case

More charges for Sassa officials in R260 million grant fraud case! The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has escalated charges against five officials from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), who have been implicated in a R260 million grant fraud scheme.

Following their arrest on Friday, the officials appeared in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the number of charges against them increased to over 1,300 counts of cybercrime, fraud, and theft.

The Accused and Their Arrest

The accused individuals are:

• Phumelele Myeza (37)
• Paul Bones (49)
• Keamogetswe Irene Ledwaba (49)
• Siphesihle Phumzile Dlamini (30)
• Phiwe Mkhuzangwe (37)

Sassa officials

According to NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, three of the suspects—Bones, Dlamini, and Mkhuzangwe—were arrested inside a Sassa branch in Johannesburg on Friday, while Ledwaba was taken into custody at her home in Soweto. Myeza surrendered voluntarily on Sunday.

Mjonondwane also confirmed that a sixth Sassa employee handed themselves over to authorities on Monday morning, suggesting that the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests may follow.

The five accused are currently applying for bail, but their application has been postponed to Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

More Officials Previously Arrested

These latest arrests come just a month after four other Sassa officials were taken into custody under similar allegations.

The previously arrested individuals include:

• Shumani Khwerana (35)
• Nkhensani Sharon Maluleke (28)
• Tshilidzi Ramaphosa (34)
• Ebenezer Tilahyn (29) (Ethiopian national)

Like the latest suspects, these four are also employed at Sassa.

How the Alleged Fraud Was Uncovered

Investigators began closely monitoring the suspected fraudulent activities after noticing large cash withdrawals being made using multiple Sassa and bank cards at a Shoprite supermarket in Soweto on February 4, 2025.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had been creating fake Sassa accounts, allowing them to fraudulently withdraw government grant funds from various supermarkets across Gauteng.

Authorities believe the syndicate was part of an elaborate scheme to siphon millions of rands from South Africa’s social grant system, which is meant to assist the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

NPA to Oppose Bail

The NPA has confirmed that it will oppose the bail applications of the accused, arguing that the fraudulent scheme involved a large-scale abuse of public funds.

“We are dealing with a highly organized syndicate that has defrauded the system of millions. Allowing them out on bail could jeopardize ongoing investigations,” said Mjonondwane.

The prosecution is expected to present evidence of the fraudulent transactions, including financial records and footage from ATMs and supermarkets, to support its case against the accused.

What Happens Next?

With the investigation still underway, more arrests are expected, as authorities continue to unravel the full extent of the fraud.

If convicted, the accused face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and the forfeiture of any assets obtained through the fraudulent scheme.

This case has also raised serious concerns about the security of Sassa’s financial systems, prompting calls for greater oversight and tighter security measures to prevent similar scams in the future.

For now, all eyes are on the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court, where the accused will make their next appearance on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.