The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has intensified its crackdown on fraud and corruption within its ranks, resulting in an alleged assassination plot against a senior Eastern Cape official. Regional manager Bandile Maqetuka opened a criminal case in KuGompo City after receiving information that a hitman had been hired to kill him. Maqetuka believes the threat is linked to Sassa's anti-fraud operations.
The alleged plot emerged as Sassa continues to uncover corruption involving both beneficiaries and officials. In July last year, five officials from the Dutywa office were dismissed after allegedly working with a syndicate that created fraudulent beneficiaries and grant applications. The officials were supplying bank account details, addresses, and beneficiary information to facilitate the scheme.
Maqetuka said he was alerted to the alleged plot shortly before traveling to an outreach imbizo in Mthatha. He received a call from someone who was initially part of the plot, and they met physically. The person revealed that the instigator thought Maqetuka would be stopping at the Dutywa office, where a syndicate was operating.
Sassa is currently investigating about 1,000 cases involving its own staff members. Maqetuka said preservation orders had also been sought to prevent implicated officials from accessing their pension benefits while investigations continued. A similar case was identified at the Mdantsane office in June, where five junior staff members were allegedly found to be operating with a syndicate.
Maqetuka said investigations currently underway involved suspected losses of about R10m, though the figure could rise. Sassa's national verification systems routinely identify people receiving grants despite allegedly failing to disclose income, employment, or other financial benefits. The agency regularly cross-checks its database against information held by banks, government departments, and credit bureaus.
Sassa CEO Themba Matlou confirmed the agency was aware of the threats against Maqetuka and said the organization had significantly strengthened its fraud prevention systems over the past two years. Matlou said Sassa had mechanisms in place to protect employees facing threats and worked with law enforcement agencies and state security structures.
In the first quarter of the current financial year, Sassa reviewed 8,263 social grants in the Eastern Cape. A total of 4,979 grants were suspended, while 23 grants were under investigation for possible fraud. The agency plans to intensify reviews during the current quarter as part of efforts to clean its database and protect public funds.
Key points
- Sassa uncovers alleged assassination plot against senior Eastern Cape official amid efforts to recover R10m stolen from grant system
- Agency strengthens fraud prevention systems, investigates 1,000 cases involving staff members
- Sassa reviews 8,263 social grants in Eastern Cape, suspends 4,979 grants, and investigates 23 for possible fraud
