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Sassa Fires Five Joburg Officials Over R260 Million Grant Fraud

Criminal cases for eight arrested staff remain before court following the internal dismissals.

Overview

  • The officials were dismissed between November 2025 and February 2026 after disciplinary hearings tied to the Johannesburg office probe.
  • Three additional disciplinary cases are at an advanced stage pending decisions by presiding officers.
  • Investigators report that fake beneficiary profiles enabled withdrawals exceeding R260 million from Sassa pay points.
  • The probe found more than 150 forged Sassa and bank cards were used at a Shoprite in Soweto.
  • Sassa's Johannesburg office, closed on 15 September 2025 to strengthen oversight, has reopened with leadership pledging tougher anti-fraud controls.