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The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has welcomed the 10-year sentence handed down to a 69-year-old woman, Devi Sarathamoney, for defrauding the agency. Sarathamoney submitted false documents to SASSA and received an Old Age Grant from 2017 to 2022, despite being the sole director of a company doing business with the government.
The Pretoria North Regional Court Magistrate handed down the sentence on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. SASSA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Themba Matlou, praised the judgment, saying it would serve as a deterrent to those who receive grant money under false pretenses.
Matlou emphasized that SASSA conducts monthly reviews to ensure that grants are paid to the right people. He urged the public to report any suspected fraudulent activities, stating that “we can only win the fight against fraud and corruption if we work together as a society.”
This conviction comes after four women in Mbombela were sentenced to five years suspended sentence for defrauding SASSA by claiming Child Support Grants for non-existent children.
SASSA works closely with law enforcement agencies to root out corruption and fraudulent activities. The agency’s mandate is to pay the right grants to the right people while safeguarding taxpayers’ money.
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