Eight SASSA officials arrested for corruption
Police have confirmed that eight people have been arrested by members of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, for fraud and corruption.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the suspects are all officials from the South African Social Security Agency.
SASSA has been in the spotlight recently due to concern over the payment of monthly social grants.
"Members of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, SASSA and Crime Intelligence officers worked together during the arrests," Sekgotodi says.
The suspects, whose ages range from 32 to 63, allegedly manipulated the system by registering able bodied people as people living with disabilities, so they could receive grant money for which they did not qualify.
"The seven women and a man defrauded the state for over R5.5 million and the investigations into the matter started in December 2015," she says.
Suspects will appear in the Tonga Magistrate Court on Friday.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Zodwa Mokoena says they will continue to clamp down on criminals or whoever is involved in any fraudulent and corrupt activities.