Woman Sentenced To 20 Years for Fraudulently Collecting SASSA Grant

A 67-year-old woman, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraudulently collecting an older person’s grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) while being the sole director of a company that made millions from police tenders.

However, some of the sentences will be served concurrently, resulting in an effective 10-year jail term.

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The Crime

Sigamoney applied for an old age grant with SASSA in April 2017, attaching a supporting affidavit that falsely stated she had never worked for 20 years.

Despite this, she was the sole director of KJP Traders Pty, a company that had been conducting business with the state since 2012 and had cashed in approximately R88 million from SAPS contracts.

The Sentence

Magistrate Pieter Nel sentenced Sigamoney to two years’ imprisonment for perjury, five years for each of the two counts of fraud, three years for theft, and five years for contravening the Social Assistance Act.

The court also previously granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit a confiscation order against Sigamoney, requiring her to pay back R138,593 to SASSA.

Consequences and Implications

Sigamoney’s sentence serves as a strong message to potential perpetrators on the seriousness of such offenses.

The case highlights the importance of honesty and transparency in dealings with government agencies.

Sigamoney has applied for leave to appeal, and the court has postponed the matter to March 12, 2025, for arguments.

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