Eleven SASSA R260m fraud accused to remain behind bars

The Citizen

30-04-2025

The case, which first made headlines in 2024, has faced multiple postponements.
Five Sassa employees appear at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, south of Johannesburg, for fraud. 17 March 2025. Picture : Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen
The 11 accused in the R260 million South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) fraud case will remain behind bars after their court appearance on Wednesday.
The accused fraudsters were back in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, south of Johannesburg, to continue their bail application.
Bail application
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the bail application was postponed to 10 and 11 June 2025 to allow the court to hear additional evidence in order to make a decision on the applications submitted by the eleven accused individuals.
The case, which first made headlines in 2024, has faced multiple postponements.
ALSO READ: Defence alleges witness interference in Sassa fraud case
Supporting evidence
During court proceedings on Wednesday, the state submitted affidavits from the investigating officer, Constable Manana and two affidavits from Mazimela Kubeka, a senior internal investigator within Sassa with information on how the accused were implicated in the alleged offences.
Mjonondwane said the court requested additional supporting evidence from the state, including a movement report from the Department of Home Affairs detailing Ethiopian Abenezer Tilahyn's (the fourth accused) movements in and out of South Africa.
'The court also requires information about two dockets mentioned in Constable Manana's affidavit, which allegedly link some of the accused. This evidence will inform the court's decision.'
Magistrate Maggie van der Merwe ruled that there is sufficient evidence against the accused to warrant further detention.
ALSO READ: 70-year-old Sassa fraudster who stole R100 000 will soon be on trial
Witness tampering
Earlier this month, the defence attorneys representing the Sassa employees alleged potential witness interference during the bail hearing, claiming a Sassa official had visited their clients in prison to ask them to sign documents.
'The defence asks if the state is aware that some of their witnesses are interfering with the accused. They say a Sassa official visited their clients in prison yesterday to ask them to sign documents,' the defence counsel told the court.
However, state prosecutors dismissed the allegations of witness interference, stating that the prison visit by Sassa officials was related to internal disciplinary processes rather than the criminal case.
Some accused previously arrested
The 11, who include eight Sassa officials, are facing multiple charges, including cybercrime, fraud and theft.
Some of the accused who had been previously arrested include Shumani Khwerana, Nkhensani Sharon Maluleke, Tshilidzi Ramaphosa and Tilahyn.
The state alleges that the accused are alleged to have orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving the creation of fake Sassa profiles wherein more than R4 million was allegedly deposited.
These profiles were allegedly used to withdraw large sums of money from various Sassa pay points.
ALSO READ: Sassa millions 'heist' in Rosebank underground car park
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