A 67-year-old Gauteng businesswoman was convicted of theft and fraud following allegations she defrauded the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney was convicted in the Pretoria North Regional Court on Wednesday. She was also found guilty of perjury.
According to Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Sigamoney benefited from Sassa while being a director of a company that was awarded tenders from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the tender, which was worth millions of rand, was to supply office furniture.
Explaining events leading up to Sigamoney’s arrest, Mamothame said on April 13, 2017, Sigamoney applied for an old age grant with Sassa.
“She attached a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for a period of 20 years.”
On 18 April, 2017, Sassa provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received.
“She is alleged to have received grant money from Sassa amounting to approximately R123,000 from July 2017 to July 2022.”
The IDAC said subsequent to charges being registered against her, Sigamoney continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months.
The IDAC said Sigamoney is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty together with her son Matthew Pillay.
KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to Sassa.
“Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in approximately R88 million from the SAPS contracts, to which the last payment was in 2022.”
The matter was postponed to October 31, for the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) to apply for a forfeiture order to recover the money that was lost by the State.
Mamothame said a sentencing date would also be determined.
IOL News