In a recent development, three individuals accused of fraud have been released on bail after appearing in the Kgapane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo.
Mphekgwana Elisa Modjadji, 59, Lefupane Mahloatlie Mamatome, 58, and Malekutu Walter Ramoshaba, 48, were arrested earlier this month on charges of fraud.
The state alleges that between May and December last year, two community members went to the Bolobedu offices of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to apply for disability grants.
According to Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as the Hawks), the two applicants were given forms to be completed by government-appointed doctors. However, their applications were initially not approved as they did not qualify for disability grants.
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Subsequently, the forms were resubmitted with amendments that enabled the pair to be approved to receive disability grants. This irregularity was reported to the police after a capturing clerk suspected foul play.
The Hawks’ Corruption Investigation Unit was tasked with looking into the matter. During the investigation, it was discovered that the handwriting on the resubmitted documents, which contained the amendments, matched that of a SASSA employee. This led to the arrest of the three accused individuals.
The three accused appeared before the Kgapane Magistrate’s Court and were granted bail of R1,000 each. The case has been postponed to August 8 for further investigation.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of fraud within governmental agencies and the importance of vigilant oversight and thorough investigations to uphold integrity and trust in public institutions.
