Two Women and Sassa Official Arrested for Disability Grant Fraud

Picture Courtesy: (TimesLive) Mphegwa Elisa Modjadji (left), Malekutu Walter Ramoshaba (center), and Lefupana Mahloatjie Mamatome are accused of fraud.

(The Post News)- Three individuals, including two women and a Sassa official, are scheduled to appear in the Kgapane magistrate’s court on Thursday.

The case had been adjourned on Wednesday during their initial appearance in court. They face charges related to allegedly using fraudulent documents to apply for a disability grant.

Mphekgwana Elisa Modjadji a 59-year-old woman, Lefupane Mahloatlie Mamotome a 58-year-old woman, and Malekutu Walter Ramoshaba a 48-year-old man were apprehended in Limpopo on Tuesday and face fraud charges.

This incident unfolded after Modjadji and Mamotome visited the Bolobedu Sassa office in Kgapane on May 26, 2021, and December 23, 2021, respectively, to apply for disability benefits.

A Sassa official provided them with application forms that required completion by government physicians, according to Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale.
“Despite the forms being completed, they were not sanctioned as the two women failed to satisfy the necessary requirements for receiving disability grants. However, the forms were later resubmitted with alterations, resulting in their approval,” Col Katlego Mogale explained.

However, a data entry clerk suspected irregularities and reported the issue to the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit.

The investigation revealed that the handwriting on the documents belonged to a Sassa employee, according to Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale.
The hearing was postponed until Thursday for a formal bail application.