The Portfolio Committee on Social Development welcomes the arrest of three South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials suspected of fraud at the Idutywa Local Office in the Eastern Cape.
The officials were arrested after SASSA’s Eastern Cape Regional Executive Manager, Mr Bandile Maqetuka, visited the Idutywa Local Office on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, unannounced. Several unaccounted-for documents, such as birth certificates, affidavits, bank cards, identity documents, and stamped municipal letters, were found in one of the official’s drawers.
The committee commends SASSA for following up with the unannounced visit after receiving a tip-off from beneficiaries. It is important for government departments and entities to take information from whistle-blowers seriously, as this is part of accountability.
Furthermore, the committee is pleased with the swift action from the South African Police Service in arresting the officials and hopes all the law enforcement agencies in the value chain will continue in the same manner.
The committee has consistently lamented the slow pace of investigations in cases related to fraud, corruption and financial misconduct in the Department of Social Development and SASSA. The Auditor-General has flagged the issue of investigations taking place at a snail’s pace in the department and at SASSA.
The committee hopes the arrest will help deter fraudulent activities.
Africa Fact: As of 2018, the top 30 African companies had operations in 16 countries across the continent, up from an average of 8 countries only 10 years prior. Africa Fact: African foreign direct investment in Africa nearly tripled from 2006 to 2016.
What is Fraud? “Fraud” is any activity that relies on deception in order to achieve a gain. Fraud becomes a crime when it is a “knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment” (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, if you lie in order to deprive a person or organization of their money or property, you’re committing fraud.