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Bail Granted in Sassa R260 Million Fraud Scandal, But the Story Is Far from Over
Public outrage as ten suspects, including eight Sassa officials, walk free for now
In a country where corruption scandals have become dinner table talk, the sight of public servants accused of defrauding South Africa’s most vulnerable never fails to sting. That sting felt especially raw this week when ten of eleven suspects in the R260 million Sassa fraud case were granted bail by the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court, south of Johannesburg.
The case involving alleged theft of millions through fake grant profiles has rocked confidence in the very institution meant to provide social protection.
The Court’s Decision and What It Means
According to NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, the court determined that only one of the eleven — Ethiopian national Abenezer Tilahyn — posed a flight risk. The other ten, including alleged ringleader Shumani Khwerana, were granted bail ranging between R10,000 and R30,000.
As part of their release, the accused must surrender travel documents and avoid contact with witnesses or tampering with evidence. Their next appearance is scheduled for 2 September 2025, giving investigators more time to dig deeper into what appears to be one of the most intricate fraud operations Sassa has seen to date.
Inside the Alleged Scheme: Fake Grants, Real Payouts
At the heart of this scandal is a cyber-driven scam involving the creation of fake Sassa beneficiary profiles. These bogus accounts allegedly allowed the accused to channel over R4 million in payouts, withdrawing the money from various Sassa pay points.
The charges include cybercrime, fraud, and theft, and eight of the accused are Sassa employees, now suspended and removed from system access. Sassa, meanwhile, is left scrambling to assure the public that its security systems are being reevaluated.
Who Are the Accused?
Besides Khwerana and Tilahyn, other names previously arrested in connection with the case include Nkhensani Sharon Maluleke and Tshilidzi Ramaphosa. These individuals, allegedly operating within or alongside Sassa’s internal systems, exploited loopholes with alarming precision.
The investigation was largely shaped by testimony from Constable Manana, the investigating officer, and Mazimela Kubeka, a senior Sassa internal investigator, whose affidavits painted a clear picture of how deep the rot runs.
A Crime Against the Poor
On the streets and social media, the public mood is grim.
“They’re stealing from the poorest of the poor,” tweeted one user. “R260 million in grant money? That could’ve fed families for years.”
Radio talk shows lit up with callers demanding harsher bail conditions or no bail at all. Others questioned how such fraud could take place in a system already under pressure to serve over 18 million grant recipients.
“This isn’t just corruption; it’s betrayal,” said a Johannesburg-based pensioner outside the court. “We queue for hours for grants that sometimes don’t even come — and now we find out officials were creating fake profiles to enrich themselves?”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
Sassa has faced its share of controversy in the past, from botched payment contracts to administrative delays. But this case strikes a deeper chord because it highlights how internal actors may be gaming the system, not from outside but from within.
And while the R4 million uncovered so far is shocking enough, it’s the R260 million figure tied to the broader fraud investigation that truly haunts the public.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has vowed not to be deterred by the bail ruling. “This marks only a stage in the legal process,” Mjonondwane said. “The NPA remains committed to ensuring accountability and transparency in the public sector.”
Justice Must Still Be Served
This is not the end not for the accused, and certainly not for the South African people who rely on Sassa’s services. The upcoming court date in September is likely to reveal more about just how widespread the fraud was, and whether others might yet be implicated.
But for now, as ten walk free, the public waits not for headlines, but for justice.
{Source: The Citizen}
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