‘Assassination plot’ uncovered amid Sassa fraud crackdown
The South African Social Security Agency’s (Sassa) intensified crackdown on fraud and corruption within its own ranks has resulted in an alleged assassination plot against a senior Eastern Cape official, as the agency looks to recover more than R10m stolen from its system.
Sassa regional manager Bandile Maqetuka has revealed that he opened a criminal case in KuGompo City after receiving information earlier this month that a hitman had allegedly been hired to kill him.
The threat, which he believes is linked to the agency’s anti-fraud operations, emerged as Sassa continues to uncover corruption involving both beneficiaries and officials in a bid to dismantle syndicates accused of exploiting the grant system.
Maqetuka said he was alerted to the alleged plot shortly before travelling to an outreach imbizo in Mthatha.
“I opened a case at the Fleet Street police station after I was tipped off about [someone] from Dutywa who had sought the assistance of a hitman to take my life,” he said.
“Just before I left [for the imbizo], I got a call from someone who was initially part of the plot and we met physically.
“The person told me that the instigator thought I would be doing a stop at the Dutywa office.
“Remember, our Dutywa office is where we had bust the syndicate that was operating there ...
“I don’t know why they thought I would be stopping there because that was not part of my plans.”
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.
The officials were dismissed following disciplinary proceedings and subsequently lost their appeals.
“When we visited some of the addresses, those people were not known there.
“We discovered that even the surnames were not common surnames in the Eastern Cape. Some were surnames more commonly found in KwaZulu-Natal.
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