Department welcomes sentence handed to five social grant fraudsters | Western Cape Government

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Department welcomes sentence handed to five social grant fraudsters

10 December 2015

The Western Cape Department of Social Development welcomes the sentence of 7 years imprisonment handed down yesterday at the Specialized Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville to five former SASSA employees.

The SASSA 5 had each been found guilty on one count of corruption and seven counts of fraud, and were individually sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on the count of corruption and 4 years imprisonment on the seven counts of fraud.

The effective sentence of 7 years in prison sends a strong message and deterrent to other would-be social grant crooks, and will strengthens the resolve of all stakeholders looking to assist South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) clean up its administration and fight corruption.

SASSA is a national entity run by the National Department of Social Development. However as a provincial department we have played an active role in assisting SASSA to clean up its administration, and to identify people who are defrauding the system, and exploiting the poor.

The Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Adv. Albert Fritz, continues to call on SASSA to improve its systems, and clean up its administration. To date the Ministry has dealt with and assisted SASSA with 602 cases since 2010.

The Ministry will continue to play its oversight role of SASSA in the Western Cape. The public can report any suspected social grant fraud to the departments hotline on 0800 220 250.

Media Enquiries: 

Sihle Ngobese

Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, Minister of Social Development

Western Cape Government

7th floor, 14 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, 8000

Tel : (021) 483 9217

Cell :  076 083 6543

Email : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za