KEY POINTS
- Older citizen Devi Sarathamoney (69 years old) received a 10-year prison term due to old-age grant fraud committed between 2017 and 2022.
- The Social Welfare Agency warns the public through Sassa to report grant fraud and enhances its monitoring programs.
- The agency performs monthly review processes to stop fraudulent grant claims that steal tax funds.
Sassa embraces the 10-year prison term which the Pretoria North Regional Court imposed on 69-year-old Devi Sarathamoney for perpetrating theft and perjury and defrauding Sassa functions.
Sarathamoney as sole director of the company holding a multimillion-rand SAPS furniture supply contract created false documents to obtain an old-age grant from Sassa throughout 2017-2022.
Sassa has declared its intention to fight against fraudulent activities
Sassa’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Themba Matlou expressed through a public statement that the Pretoria North Regional Court’s recent verdict should intimidate all individuals who steal government social benefits.
Through his prison term Sarathamoney demonstrated that all who fraudulently obtain grant money should take note according to Matlou. She provided misleading information to Sassa to receive an old-age grant until 2022 even though she managed her company which performed government contracts.
The agency performs regular monthly checks to verify proper distribution of grants to qualified beneficiaries according to Matlou. Sassa Warns Against Grant Fraud,and will maintain active cooperation with law enforcement agencies to combat both fraudulent practices and cases of corruption within their programs.
Strengthening fraud prevention measures
The agency leadership under Matlou has declared commitment to protecting public funds through decisive measures against system violators.
The organization recognizes this court ruling as a model which should deter all those defrauding Sassa. The agency conducts regular grant payment reviews to maintain accountability for money distribution because those who obtain funds with illegal documents will be detected eventually.
The social fight against fraud and corruption requires collective effort from every member of society according to Matlou.
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