The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Gauteng said it’ll oppose the bail application of ten suspects arrested in connection with fraud at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) amounting to R260 million.
This as the Lenasia Magistrate Court today postponed the matter to 1st April 2025 for bail hearing.
The suspects include seven SASSA officials and three of their accomplices.
“This is a schedule five offence, and the onus is on the suspects to convince the court that they’re suitable candidates to be admitted into bail.
From our side as the state, the investigations that are still outstanding include amongst others the profiling of the accused persons before court so that will mean their residential addresses, whether they have pending or previous criminal cases with which they were charged.
It’s all the work that the investigator needs to conclude so that the state can be ready with evidence that it’ll present in court in opposing their release on bail,” said NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane.
In addition, the NPA said more charges will be added on top of the more than one thousand fraud related charges that the accused are facing.
The suspects Friday’s arrests come after another sting operation conducted last month, where four suspects were arrested in Soweto after they were found allegedly withdrawing money at a retail supermarket, using different SASSA and Bank cards.
The suspects were found with more than 150 fraudulent cards and an unlicensed firearm.
According to SASSA, four accused were arrested last month, the other four last week Friday while another two handed themselves over on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Meanwhile, SASSA acting Chief Executive Officer, Themba Matlou, said the arrests are a step in the right direction as, the agency is intent on rooting out all forms of fraud and corruption elements within its ranks.
“What we have seen in the last few weeks is a culmination of the hard work of our officials, working with the South African Police Service in clamping down.”
