A trial has been scheduled for Salamina Khoza, a 70-year-old woman accused of fraudulently applying for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pension while her companies secured contracts worth over R60 million from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Charges Against Salamina Khoza
Khoza faces multiple serious charges, including violations of the Social Assistance Act, the Justice of Peace and Commissioners Oaths Act, as well as fraud and theft.
The investigation into Khoza’s actions, led by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), revealed that she unlawfully received a pension payout of R152,000 from SASSA.
Connection Between the Pension and Company Contracts
Khoza’s receipt of the pension funds coincided with her role as a director of three companies that were awarded contracts totaling over R60 million from SAPS between September 2014 and August 2022. Her companies are also currently facing legal action in various courts.
Trial Information
Khoza’s trial is set to begin on July 22, 2025, at the Pretoria North Regional Court. This legal proceeding is expected to shed more light on the alleged fraudulent activities involving both her personal benefits and her companies.
Update on Devi Sigamoney’s Case
Meanwhile, the case against Devi Sigamoney, a 69-year-old woman, has been postponed to March 20, 2025, for further arguments. Sigamoney, who had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison, has filed an application to appeal her sentence.
Sigamoney’s Legal Request
Sigamoney’s new legal team requested a postponement to thoroughly review the court transcripts before proceeding with the appeal.
Sigamoney’s Crime and Legal Consequences
Sigamoney was convicted of defrauding SASSA out of at least R135,000 while serving as a director of a company that had received contracts worth approximately R88 million from SAPS.
Timeline of Events Leading to Arrest
In April 2017, Sigamoney applied for an old age grant from SASSA, claiming that she had not worked for the past 20 years. Subsequently, on April 18, 2017, she received a letter of approval from SASSA, which she acknowledged by signing. Sigamoney received R123,000 from July 2017 to July 2022 as part of her grant payments.
However, after formal charges were filed against her, Sigamoney continued to receive the grant for an additional 16 months. As a result, she was ordered to repay the full amount with interest at a rate of 11.25% per annum and was required to provide proof of payment to the state.
Both Salamina Khoza and Devi Sigamoney are facing significant legal challenges following their involvement in fraudulent activities related to SASSA grants and SAPS contracts. Their cases highlight the need for increased scrutiny in the management of social assistance programs and government contracts to prevent such abuses.
FAQs
What are the charges against Salamina Khoza?
Salamina Khoza faces charges including fraud, theft, and contraventions of the Social Assistance Act and the Justice of Peace and Commissioners Oaths Act.
When is Salamina Khoza’s trial scheduled?
Her trial is set to begin on July 22, 2025, at the Pretoria North Regional Court.
What happened in Devi Sigamoney’s case?
Sigamoney was convicted of defrauding SASSA out of R135,000 while serving as a director of a company that received R88 million in contracts from SAPS.
When will Devi Sigamoney’s appeal hearing take place?
The hearing is scheduled for March 20, 2025.
