Some people whose job was to protect grant money are accused of inventing fake names to steal cash meant for children and grandparents.
Gauteng SAPS and SASSA integrity teams arrested four regional officials in March 2025 for an alleged R260 million ghost-beneficiary / cloned-card scheme run out of Johannesburg and Soweto. Further counts and private-sector accomplices were added as card laboratories were dismantled.
Expenditure figures linked to the story: Gauteng SASSA Officials Arrested in R260 Million Grant Fraud
R260m
SAPS-published estimate of fraudulent grants mis-paid via cloned cards linked to the March 2025 Gauteng takedown.
Police said about R260 million in grants was stolen in this scheme.
It is a crime to give, offer, receive or accept any kind of reward to make someone do their job dishonestly — whether you are in government or in business.
This story touches 2 Acts of Parliament. These are the rules that were supposed to be followed — by police, prosecutors, ministers, and civil servants. When those rules aren't followed, ordinary people pay the price: crimes go uninvestigated, public money goes missing, and trust breaks down. The Record tracks every step so accountability has a paper trail.
Social Assistance Act· Act 13 of 2004
Section Section 4
Minister / Agency duties to pay lawful beneficiaries only.
Duties on the Minister and SASSA to administer grants faithfully — a lens for grant fraud prosecutions.
Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act· Act 12 of 2004
Section Section 3
Abuse of position to divert social security funds.
It is a crime to give, offer, receive or accept any kind of reward to make someone do their job dishonestly — whether you are in government or in business.
This story touches 2 Acts of Parliament. These are the rules that were supposed to be followed — by police, prosecutors, ministers, and civil servants. When those rules aren't followed, ordinary people pay the price: crimes go uninvestigated, public money goes missing, and trust breaks down. The Record tracks every step so accountability has a paper trail.