TWO elderly women have been charged for allegedly defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Sarathamoney Sigamoney (66) and Salamina Khoza (68) have also been charged with perjury, theft and contravention of the Social Assistance Act.
They allegedly received grants while being the sole directors of companies that were awarded the South African Police Service (SAPS) tenders worth millions.
The case against Sigamoney was postponed to 10 February, and she was granted R5000 bail.
The case against Khoza was postponed to 23 March for pre-trial.
Investigating Directorate’s national spokeswoman Sindisiwe Seboka said Sigamoney was notified to hand in her travel documents. and not to apply for any new ones. She said Sigamoney is accused of defrauding Sassa more than R123 000 and Khoza R152 000.
“Sigamoney was arrested yesterday, 16 November, while while Khoza was summoned to appear as she was previously arrested on similar charges,” she said.
Seboka said Sigamoney applied to Sassa on 13 April 2017, stating that she had never worked for a period of 20 years.
“The application was approved and she allegedly received money from Sassa.
“Prior to submitting her application to the Department of Social Development in Gauteng, Sigamoney submitted a similar application in KZN and her application was declined.
“She is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son). KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to Sassa.
“Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in over R80 million from a SAPS furniture contract,” she said.
In the second case, Seboka said Khoza applied for Sassa in September 2014.
“Khoza allegedly stated that she had no steady source of income and that she was surviving on R400 per month through selling perishables. On 22 September 2014, the application was approved
“At the time the accused applied for the old age grant, she was already the sole director of three companies registered on the central supplier database of the National Treasury,” said Seboka.
“According to the SAPS Police Financial Systems, the three companies are recipients of various amounts of money that were paid by the SAPS because they had tendered with the police services,” said Seboka.
She said Khoza is accused of receiving R152,125 from SASSA between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2022 while allegedly received over R60 million from her companies for tenders.
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“Khoza did not have any authority to transact on the accounts held by her companies. Kishene Chetty was the sole signatory on the accounts. Khoza was fronting for Chetty who was the beneficial owner of the three companies,” said Seboka.
