TWO suspects, ages (32) and (45), were arrested on Thursday, 29 June, by the Hawks on fraud charges in a joint operation with the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
According to Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the two were former employees of the South African Post Office in Butterworth, Eastern Cape who worked as tellers.
It's alleged that the suspects were responsible for the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) payments at the cash pay point.
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"During the period between September 2020 and April 2022, it is alleged that both suspects, in collusion, unlawfully and intentionally disregarded the procedure for the payment of social security benefits and diverted the funds into their pockets.
"It is further alleged that the suspects deprived SASSA of an amount in excess of R4,1 million for their personal benefit. The matter was then reported to the Mthatha-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks for investigation, leading to their arrest," Mhlakuvana said.
The head of the provincial cops, Major-General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, again commended all those involved for the successful joint operation and the excellent job they did in rooting out criminal elements by tracking down those who stole from the poor.
