Former SASSA official, Norman Cecil Nkuna was granted a R3000, 00 bail following his arrest by members of the Hawks.
A former official of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has made a brief appearance in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court facing damning charges of fraud and corruption.
Norman Cecil Nkuna (47) was granted a R3000, 00 bail following his arrest by members of the Hawks on April 19.
Hawks provincial spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lethunya Muroa said the matter was postponed to May 10 at Polokwane Specialised Crimes Commercial Court.
“Other eleven accused related to this case were previously arrested and released on bail. Our investigation found out that between 2018 and 2020, the SASSA officials have been recruiting public members to apply for disability grants whereas they were not disabled. The matter was reported to the Phalaborwa based Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation. The investigations were conducted and subsequently a warrant of arrest was authorised by the National Prosecuting Authority. The provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Gopz Govender praised the investigators for their sterling work” Muroa said.
As corruption and malfeasance find their way in the SASSA corridors, fraudsters are cashing on grant recipients through an intricate system that includes deceptively registering ID numbers and opening bank accounts without the victims’ knowledge.
After the dubious registration, crooked SASSA officials allegedly took their personal particulars and captured them on the agency’ system thereby applying for such grants without following the proper procedures.
According to information, the disability grant would be approved, and it is alleged that SASSA officials would benefit by taking the first three months’ payments and thereafter handing over the SASSA grant card to the owner(s) for further payments.
Despite the fact that more than half a billion rand has been stolen from SASSA over the past 10 years, consequence management seems to have been minimal.
While SASSA grant recipients continue to stress month after month about whether their grants will be paid on time, the Agency and the Department of Social Development seem to have little interest in ensuring that money vital to the survival of poor and vulnerable South Africans is safe from thieving hands.
Opposition parties in parliament reiterate that the more than R536 million looted in the past decade would have gone a long way in ensuring that SASSA offices are capacitated and addressing system failures and safety glitches.
With the rising cost of living, poor South Africans are barely keeping their heads above water.
Mopani Times understands that SASSA has also irregularly paid over R150 million to deceased former grant beneficiaries over the past three years.
This was revealed by Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu who confirmed that at least 74, 636 such irregular payments have been made.