WESTERN CAPE – The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested 10 suspects aged between 27 and 58 for allegations of fraud and corruption. The suspects were arrested on the 13 and 14 February 2023 respectively. They are expected to appear in the Malmesbury Magistrates’ Court this morning, 15 February 2023.

An ongoing investigation by the Hawks commenced in April 2022 into allegations of individuals who were defrauding the South African Social Services Agency. It is alleged that individuals from Eastern Cape and Western Cape submitted fraudulent medical documents to apply for disability grants at SASSA offices in Malmesbury. They were allegedly assisted by one of the suspects who is neither a SASSA nor Health employee who ‘recruited’ these individuals at a fee. The fraudulent activities were conducted with the assistance of a SASSA employee.

SASSA suffered a loss of more than R1.8 million due to these fraudulent grant payments. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service