THEY recruited the members of the public to apply for disability grants in 2018, even though they were not physically challenged, in order to make a quick buck.
The two former South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) officials, in their capacity as clerk administrators, then pocketed the money to the tune of over R200 000 together with their accomplices. But their evil deeds caught up with them when the Sassa authorities reported them to the Hawks.
The two officials and their nine accomplices, aged between 38 and 61, were arrested for alleged fraud during a two-day raid in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on Wednesday 13 and Thursday, 14 September.
The operation was carried out by members of the Limpopo Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation with the assistance of Sassa officials.
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Limpopo Hawks spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Matimba Maluleke said the two former Sassa officials allegedly recruited members of the public during 2018 to apply for disability grants, even though they were not disabled.
"After their applications were successfully processed, the first payments to the unlawful beneficiaries were paid to the former officials as rewards," he said.
Matimba said the unlawful beneficiaries continued to receive the grants until Sassa authorities discovered this and reported the matter to the Hawks.
He said all the arrested suspects will appear for the first time in the Tzaneen Magistrates Court where they are charged with fraud.
Limpopo Hawks head Major-General Gopz Govender expressed his sincere gratitude to the team for their excellent work.
"All corrupt government officials as well as members of the public will from this day going forward feel the unmistakable arm of the law," Govender said.
