Hawks zoom into post office staff amid probe into SASSA scams
The Hawks are investigating a spate of scams by employees at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
This follows findings by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane pointing to a diversion of pension funds to dubious bank accounts.
The allegations that sparked the investigations purported that in 2018 when SASSA was issuing the new beneficiary bank cards, some pensioners and other SASSA grant beneficiaries didn't receive their monies.
It's believed some SASSA employees had pocketed the funds.
According to Hawks spokesperson Bonnie Nxumalo close to 21 000 fraud cases had been registered within the South African Post Office by 2019.
Of these, more than 12 000 social grant beneficiaries were reimbursed for the losses they suffered to the total value of over R21 million.
But criminal activity continued.
"A new modus operandi was identified where a beneficiary's social grant bank account was changed or diverted into a new bank account without the knowledge of the beneficiary. The funds would then be withdrawn from the new account by an unknown persons," said Nxumalo.
At the time, police arrested 61 people, including 6 post office employees.
"Of the reported cases, 18 were referred to the Hawks for further investigation. A total of 80 suspects were arrested in those cases.
"Cases against six accused were withdrawn pending further investigation whilst the others are on trial in various courts around the country," Nxumalo added.
Investigations are continuing.
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