5 SASSA Officials Face Over 1,300 Charges In R260 Million Grant Fraud Scheme

Five South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) officials have had their charges escalated following their involvement in a fraudulent R260 million grant scheme.

After being arrested on Friday, the suspects appeared in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where they faced over 1,300 counts of cybercrime, fraud, and theft.

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The arrests is a significant development in the investigation into the alleged Sassa fraud syndicate.

Details Of The Alleged Fraud Scheme

The accused individuals—Phumelele Myeza, 37, Paul Bones, 49, Keamogetswe Irene Ledwaba, 49, Siphesihle Phumzile Dlamini, 30, and Phiwe Mkhuzangwe, 37—are suspected of creating fictitious Sassa accounts and using them to withdraw large sums of money illicitly.

Bones, Dlamini, and Mkhuzangwe were arrested at a Sassa branch in Johannesburg on Friday, while Ledwaba was taken into custody in Soweto, and Myeza voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Sunday.

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The suspects are accused of withdrawing funds from over 150 fraudulent Sassa and bank cards, primarily at a Shoprite supermarket in Soweto on February 4, 2025.

The money was reportedly transferred to multiple supermarkets across Gauteng, where the illicit funds were accessed.

Investigation And Additional Arrests

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that a sixth Sassa employee surrendered to law enforcement on Monday morning, indicating that the investigation into the fraud syndicate is ongoing.

The five officials currently facing charges will join four other Sassa employees who were arrested last month under similar allegations.

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The previous arrests included Shumani Khwerana, 35, Nkhensani Sharon Maluleke, 28, Tshilidzi Ramaphosa, 34, and Ethiopian national Ebenezer Tilahyn, 29, who were also implicated in the scheme.

Bail Application Postponed

The accused officials are scheduled for a bail hearing on today Tuesday, March 18, 2025, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) indicating their intent to oppose bail.

The scale of the fraud scheme, involving millions of rands in stolen grant funds, has raised serious concerns about security and accountability within Sassa.

The authority disclosed that, the investigation  will uncover the full extent of the fraud network and ensure that all responsible individuals are held accountable for their actions.

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