KEY POINTS
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The Gauteng High Court has rejected an urgent bail application by Phumelele Myeza, one of 11 accused in a R4 million Sassa fraud case, citing insufficient evidence and a still-pending decision by the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court.
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The accused allegedly created fake Sassa profiles to siphon off millions in social grant funds, with eight current or former Sassa officials among those charged with over 1,000 counts of fraud, cybercrime, and identity theft.
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The case continues amid claims of witness interference and public outcry over corruption in Sassa, with bail proceedings resuming on 10 and 11 June 2025.
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed an urgent bail application brought by Phumelele Myeza, one of eleven individuals implicated in the high-profile South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, fraud case, involving more than R4 million in allegedly misappropriated funds.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, 22 May 2025, represents a significant development in a case that has gripped the nation since its emergence in 2024.
The defense team had approached the high court in an attempt to override the delays in the lower court, arguing that the extended postponement period imposed by the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court was “excessively long and therefore irregular.” However, the high court found no legal grounds to interfere with the magistrate’s ongoing proceedings, emphasizing that the bail process at the lower court was still incomplete and required further evidentiary input.
The Citizen reports that Myeza and her ten co-accused — including eight current or former Sassa officials — are facing over 1,000 charges.
These include cybercrime, fraud, and identity theft in connection with a sophisticated operation that allegedly siphoned millions from government grants intended for South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.
State claims elaborate sassa fraud scheme exploited vulnerable system
According to the state, the accused orchestrated an elaborate fraud scheme by generating fake Sassa beneficiary profiles. “Funds totaling more than R4 million were deposited into these fraudulent profiles,” prosecutors explained.
These funds were then withdrawn from various Sassa pay points across Gauteng, suggesting a coordinated operation within and outside the agency.
The state’s position was presented by Senior State Advocate Matshediso Phatlanyane, who opposed the urgent application on procedural grounds. “The accused approached the high court prematurely,” she argued, “since the magistrate has yet to reach a final decision on the matter.” Phatlanyane also maintained that there were “no irregularities that would justify the intervention of the high court.”
In its ruling, the court agreed that Myeza’s legal team had not provided sufficient evidence to justify her release at this stage. The judge noted that the magistrate had already requested more information to be presented at the next scheduled bail hearing in early June.
Meanwhile, allegations of potential witness interference have added a new layer of complexity to the case. Defense attorneys claim that a Sassa official visited the accused in prison and attempted to coerce them into signing documents, an action they suggest was intended to compromise the defense.
However, state prosecutors have dismissed these claims, stating that any contact between Sassa officials and the accused was strictly related to internal disciplinary proceedings and not the criminal trial.
The case has already seen several postponements, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirming that the bail applications are set to continue on 10 and 11 June 2025. A trial date may also be scheduled at that time, with key witness testimony expected to be a focal point of the prosecution’s case.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the scandal has prompted renewed calls for transparency and tighter controls within Sassa, which disburses billions of rands in social grants each year. The agency has repeatedly come under fire for systemic vulnerabilities, with critics arguing that its systems remain prone to exploitation by internal and external actors.
If convicted, the accused could face significant prison terms and financial penalties. The outcome of the upcoming bail hearings and subsequent trial will likely set a precedent for how the state addresses large-scale corruption within government institutions.
