Teboho Setena
The ex-workers of the Tsheseng Post Office linked to the alleged fraud involving well over R8 million of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), are set to go on trial. The matter is set to continue from 28 to 30 July in the Bethlehem Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
The four accused are: Matshediso Merriam Mokoena (35), Ntswaki Chrestinah Sefako (38), Mabuti Johannes Mbongo (45) and Sabi Letta Mokwena (58). They have been appearing since their arrest in January last year and are now out on bail. The bail of Sefako, Mokoena, and Mbongo is set at R10 000, while Mokwena was released on bail set at R5 000. They are facing charges of fraud, money laundering, and contravention of the Cyber Crime Act and the Electronic Communication Transaction (ECT) Act.
The case is a result of in-depth probing by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
The arrests came after the Free State High Court successfully granted an order to forfeit four vehicles plus money in various bank accounts of the suspects.
The application was brought by the Hawks, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The forfeited vehicles include two Toyota Avanzas, a Citi Golf, and a bakkie.
The Hawks’ findings revealed the accused had allegedly used a church’s account to siphon more than R8 million from a Sassa account.Four Post Office workers caught regarding Sassa fraud committed through church’s account
At the time of allegedly committing the crime, between 2020 and 2022, the accused were responsible for performing transactions to assist Sassa beneficiaries to obtain their grants.
According to the investigation, they allegedly transferred different amounts to the individuals’ accounts.
The amount of R324 950 was apparently transferred to Mokoena’s bank account;
R887 010 to that of Sefako; R7 527 107 to Mbongo’s account; and R1 700 to Mokwena’s bank account.
According to WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, the Tsheseng Post Office was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of over R8,7 million in the process. In-depth probing revealed the accused had been issued with unique numbers, which are not transferable, and they allegedly inflated the amounts accounted for as entries on the system, resulting in misappropriating the entity funds as valid amounts claimed to have been paid to the valid beneficiaries.
The Hawks’ investigation revealed the monies were seemingly instead transferred into the bank accounts of the accused, as well as their associates.
■ Additional fraud cases Sassa has uncovered at its Eastern Cape offices involve thousands of missing files, fictitious children, and fake pensioners.
The agency reported it has suffered losses of R4,3 million due to cases of fraud in the Eastern Cape, while in Gauteng more than R260 million has been lost.
■ Furthermore, the agency has identified about 210 000 social grant beneficiaries nationally, including 25,612 in the Free State, who appear to be receiving income that was not truthfully disclosed to the agency.
In accordance with the Social Assistance Act and its regulations, beneficiaries are legally required to fully disclose all sources of income during their initial application.
They are also obligated to inform Sassa of any changes to their financial circumstances after their application has been approved.
Failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a violation of the act and may result in corrective action.
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