Latest news with #Dibakwane
The Citizen
7 days ago
- The Citizen
Ex-post office manager loses R140k in pension after Sassa fraud sentence
Bushbuckridge ex-post office branch manager admits to Sassa grant theft, forfeits pension funds in court ruling. A former post office manager lost more than R140 000 from her pension payout after colluding with accomplices to steal Sassa funds from needy beneficiaries. Lucia Mashego, a former branch manager of the Shatale Post Office in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, has received an eight-year prison sentence for fraud. This sentence is suspended for five years, contingent upon her not being convicted of a similar offence during that period. Ex-post office branch boss pleaded guilty to Sassa fraud This comes after the wheelchair-bound woman pleaded guilty to all 60 charges on 27 May 2025. The Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court also ordered the Asset Forfeiture Unit to recover R146 897.05 from her pension fund. ALSO READ: Sassa responds to social grant deduction complaints Mashego colluded with a teller, Thandeka Dibakwane, and a private person, Precious Nyathi, to steal from Sassa beneficiaries without their knowledge. She made duplicate Sassa cards and gave them to Dibakwane, who then handed them to Nyathi to unlawfully withdraw money from various ATMs. According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Sassa beneficiaries lost R250 000 through these unlawful withdrawals. Beneficiaries lost R250k The Hawks' Nelspruit-based serious corruption investigation unit handled the case. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said another post office teller, Virginia Phoku, took advantage of the situation and created duplicate cards after seeing the illegal activity. Phoku was found guilty and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar offence during January 2025. The other two accused, Dibakwane and Nyathi, are expected to appear before the Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, 13 August 2025. ALSO READ: Sassa pilots grant improvements in Western Cape
The South African
7 days ago
- The South African
Ex-Post Office manager loses pension payout over SASSA fraud
A former Post Office manager in Mpumalanga has lost over R100 000 of her pension payout for defrauding SASSA beneficiaries without their knowledge. Lucia Mashego, a wheelchair bound former Shatale Post Office branch manager in Bushbuckridge colluded with a teller, Thandeka Dibakwane, and a private person, Precious Nyathi, to steal from SASSA beneficiaries without their knowledge. FORMER POST OFFICE MANAGER LOSES PENSION OVER DEFRAUDING SASSA BENEFICIARIES According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as the Hawks), Mashego made duplicate SASSA cards that were given to Dibakwane, who handed them to Nyathi to unlawfully withdraw money from different ATMs. Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the SASSA beneficiaries suffered an actual loss of R250 000 that was unlawfully withdrawn from their accounts. Nkosi said upon noticing the illicit activities, Virginia Phoku, another post office teller, took advantage of the situation and made herself duplicate cards. Phoku was found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar offence in January. 'Mashego pleaded guilty on all 60 fraud charges on 27 May. She was sentenced to eight years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar offence. The court further ordered the Asset Forfeiture Unit to recover R146 897,05 from her pension fund,' Nkosi explained. Meanwhile, the former Post Office manager's accomplices, Dibakwane and Nyathi, are expected to appear before the Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, 13 August. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Nico Gerber issued a strong warning to people in authority not to abuse their powers for self-enrichment at the expense of the most needy. 'We will investigate without fear or favor and ensure justice is served,' Gerber said. DO YOU THINK THE SENTENCE RECEIVED BY THE FORMER POST OFFICE MANAGER IS SUITABLE? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
