Sassa fraud: 5 officials axed while Joburg office reopens

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has dismissed five officials in Johannesburg for their roles in fraud and corruption. The agency dismissed the officials between November 2025 and February 2026 following disciplinary hearings after eight officials were arrested for fraud at its Johannesburg local office early in 2025. Paseka Letsatsi, Sassa spokesperson, confirmed that the disciplinary cases of the remaining three are ongoing, while the criminal cases against the eight are still before the court.

“While five officials have been dismissed, the remaining three cases are at an advanced stage pending the verdict of the presiding officers,” she said. Last year, the suspects allegedly ran a sophisticated multi-million rand scheme, creating fake Sassa profiles to steal millions in deposits. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the suspects were arrested following a meticulous investigation.

The suspects allegedly used these profiles to withdraw more than R260 million from various Sassa pay points, defrauding the grant system. The probe revealed that the accused had used more than 150 fake Sassa and bank cards at a Shoprite supermarket in Soweto. Sassa temporarily closed the Johannesburg local office at 1 De Villiers Street on 15 September 2025, months after the arrests. This was to allow the agency to “strengthen internal controls, reinforce oversight mechanisms and enhance fraud prevention systems”.