Four Women Sentenced for SASSA Fraud

The Nelspruit Serious Commercial Crime Court has sentenced four women to five years in prison for defrauding the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). However, their sentences were wholly suspended, provided they do not commit further fraud during the suspension period.

Nonhlanhla Madalane, Tswarelo Masuku, Prudence Nkosi, and Nelile Shiba committed fraud from 2012 to 2023 by colluding with unidentified health workers to obtain fake birth certificates for non-existent children. They used these documents to apply for child support grants, defrauding SASSA for over a decade.

The scheme was uncovered when a whistle-blower alerted the Public Service Commission. The Hawks’ Nelspruit Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit took over the case, leading to the women’s arrest in 2023.

After multiple court appearances, they were convicted and ordered to repay the stolen funds in instalments: Madalane (R20,300), Masuku (R20,200), and Nkosi and Shiba (R10,300 each), totaling over R60,000.

Hawks Mpumalanga Provincial Head, Maj-Genl Nico Gerber, commended the investigative team for securing the convictions.