Two suspects, aged 45 and 70, will be making their first appearance in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s court on Friday, 26 April 2024 following their arrest today, 24 April 2024, at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices in the Roodepoort central business district.
It is alleged that a whistle blower alerted the members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Serious Corruption Investigation team of the suspects’ intentions. They allegedly approached the said employee of SASSA with a proposal of working together in registering elderly social grants employees with the agency. The suspects are said to have promised that each application would be handed in accompanied with R1000 for processing.
The initial batch of 15 applications were handed to the employee with R15 000 enticement to process the applications outside of the normal procedure. The second batch of 20 applications and R23 150.00 were handed over today, 24 April 2024 and both suspects were arrested. Upon searching the suspects’ vehicle, an unlicensed firearm and ammunition were discovered by the team. SASSA was prejudiced of R 38 150.00.
The suspects will face charges of corruption, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition when they appear in court.