Four women arrested for claiming R285,000 in Sassa grants for ‘ghost’ children

The Hawks have swooped on four women accused of claiming more than R284,000 in South African Social Security Agency grants for “ghost” children.

May 20, 2023 at 00:17 pm

Philani Nombembe

Journalist

The arrests followed a complaint that the two suspects were allegedly demanding between R2,500 and R3,000 from applicants in exchange for learners' licences without the applicants being tested. (123RF/BELCHONOK)

The Hawks have swooped on four women accused of claiming more than R284,000 in South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants for “ghost” children.

Nonhlanhla Patricia Madalane, 35, Prudence Letsiwe Nkosi, 30, Tswapelo Prudence Masuku, 31, and Nelile Shiba, 28, were hauled before the Mbombela (Nelspruit) magistrate's court in Mpumalanga to answer to fraud and theft charges on Thursday.

“It is alleged that the four accused registered non-existing ‘ghost’ children on the Sassa database using false and forged birth certificates through misrepresentation to claim undue funds,” said Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale.

“These activities prejudiced and also caused Sassa an actual loss of R284,888.”

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