TWO women, who were allegedly recruited to illegally adopt kids before registering them for Sassa grants and claiming the money, have been released on bail.
This was heard when the two suspects, aged 51 and 35, appeared in the Botshabelo Magistrates Court in Bloemfontein on Monday, 27 March.
They appeared alongside two Free State parents aged 29 and 59.
The four were joined by recently arrested suspects, a 57-year-old Home Affairs official and a 45-year-old health department official.
According to Free State Hawks spokeswoman Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, the two officials were arrested on Friday, 24 March.
She said:
All six accused were each granted R1 000 bail.
Matoti said the two women were arrested on Friday, 17 March. They allegedly went to Botshabelo Home Affairs for late registration applications for two children aged five and 15.
According to Matoti, the two were helped by a Home Affairs official who later acted on her suspicions and notified the police.
When investigations were conducted, it was revealed that the two women had colluded with an official from the Department of Health and an official from Home Affairs.
“The official from the Department of Health allegedly recruits foreigners to illegally adopt children. The recruited woman would identify children and negotiate with their parents to give consent in exchange for a money reward should they agree.
“She would take the children to a Home Affairs official who will register them. The children would later be registered for Sassa grants and they (suspects) would share the money,” said Matoti.
She said investigations into the matter continue. The case will return to court on 2 May.
