The Hawks in Mpumalanga have apprehended twenty-three accused aged between 31 and 54 in connection with fraud and theft.
The accused includes SASSA beneficiaries, who appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court today after they were arrested following a Hawks’ Serious Corruption Crime Investigation in 2016.
“It is alleged that in April 2016 the SASSA officials approached and recruited individuals to submit their identity documents. These documents were used to register them for disability grants that were approved for monthly payments which the officials withdrew and paid the recruited beneficiaries only a portion whilst keeping the rest of the money for themselves” said Hawks.
Hawks revealed they received a tip-off regarding the matter and the investigation revealed that all the recruited beneficiaries were not disabled despite having been registered as such.
The investigation around the matter was finalized and the accused were served with court summonses to appear before the court. The case is postponed to 04 September 2020 for the appointment of legal representatives.
The case has been postponed to 07 August 2020 for a formal bail application.