Authorities have scheduled a trial in Pretoria for a woman accused of fraudulently receiving a Sassa pension while her company won SAPS tenders worth millions.
Officials have set a trial date for a 70-year-old woman accused of fraudulently receiving a pension from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa). Her company secured multimillion-rand contracts with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Salamina Khoza faces charges of contravening the Social Assistance Act and the Justice of Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act. Prosecutors have also charged her with fraud and theft.
According to Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame, Khoza unlawfully received R152,000 in pension payouts from Sassa. At the time, she served as a director for three companies. This happened while she served as a director for three companies. These companies collectively received more than R60 million in SAPS contracts between September 2014 and August 2022.
Mamothame also confirmed that authorities are pursuing separate criminal proceedings against Khoza’s companies in various courts. The Pretoria North Regional Court will begin her trial on July 22, 2025.
Case of Another Accused Delayed
Meanwhile, the court has postponed the case against 69-year-old Devi Sigamoney to March 20, 2025, for arguments. This follows her appeal against a 10-year prison sentence.
Mamothame said Sigamoney’s new legal representative requested a postponement to review court transcripts.
The court convicted Sigamoney of defrauding Sassa of at least R135,000. At the time, she was serving as a director of a company that secured SAPS contracts worth approximately R88 million.
How She Committed The Fraud
According to Mamothame, Sigamoney applied for an old-age grant from Sassa on April 13, 2017. In her supporting affidavit, she claimed she had not worked for the past 20 years.
On April 18, 2017, Sassa approved her application, and she began receiving payouts. She allegedly took about R123,000 in grant money from July 2017 to July 2022, even after prosecutors filed charges against her. She continued receiving payments for an additional 16 months.
The court has ordered Sigamoney to repay the funds with interest at a prescribed rate of 11.25% per year. She must also provide proof of payment to the state.
