KEY POINTS
- A Sassa administrator, Boipelo Ramafoko, was granted R1,500 bail after allegedly demanding a R3,000 bribe from a pensioner applying for a grant.
- The case has been postponed to May 5, 2025, for further investigation, with the Hawks leading the probe into the corruption allegations.
- This incident underscores ongoing issues of corruption within Sassa, highlighting the need for stronger oversight to protect vulnerable grant recipients.
A South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, administrator has been granted bail after allegedly demanding a bribe from a pensioner seeking assistance with his grant application.
Boipelo Eugenia Ramafoko, 42, appeared in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court in Rustenburg on Friday, March 7, 2025, where she was granted R1,500 bail.
Ramafoko, who works at a Sassa office in Rustenburg, was arrested by the Hawks Serious Investigation team on Thursday, March 6, following allegations that she solicited a R3,000 bribe from a 63-year-old man applying for a pension grant in December 2024.
According to North West Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse, Ramafoko allegedly demanded the money before processing the pensioner’s application.
“The victim explained that he did not have the money. He was allegedly told by the suspect that he would pay the demanded amount when he receives his first pension payout in February 2025,” Malwetse said in a statement.
The pensioner reportedly received his first payout in February and paid Ramafoko R2,000 through his daughter, according to TheCitizen.
However, the administrator allegedly became agitated when the full amount was not paid and demanded the outstanding balance.
The pensioner and his daughter planned to pay the remaining R1,000 in early March, but the matter was reported to the Hawks before the payment could be completed.
“One of the Rustenburg-based Hawks members heard about the 42-year-old’s underhanded dealings and immediately registered an enquiry on the matter for preliminary investigation,” Malwetse added. The investigation led to Ramafoko’s arrest shortly after she received the bribe.
The case has been postponed to May 5, 2025, for further investigation. If convicted, Ramafoko could face severe penalties under South Africa’s anti-corruption laws, which aim to curb the exploitation of vulnerable citizens seeking social grants.
Broader context of sassa corruption
This incident is not isolated. Corruption within Sassa has been a recurring issue, with several officials accused of exploiting grant recipients. In a related case, a 67-year-old woman, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney, was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraudulently collecting an older person’s grant.
Sigamoney allegedly received approximately R123,000 from Sassa between July 2017 and July 2022 while running a company that profited from police tenders.
These cases highlight systemic challenges within Sassa, including weak internal controls and the need for stronger oversight mechanisms. Social grants are a lifeline for millions of South Africans, and corruption within the system disproportionately affects the poor and elderly.
“The arrest of Ramafoko sends a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated, especially when it targets the most vulnerable in our society,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development.
The Hawks have urged members of the public to report any incidents of corruption or fraud involving Sassa officials. “We encourage citizens to come forward with information so that we can root out corruption and ensure that social grants reach those who truly need them,” Malwetse emphasized.
