By Kaya 959 Reporter
A Durban man has been arrested after police recovered a stolen vehicle and hundreds of SASSA cards in his possession.
Tumbikani Luwazi Mzamara is accused of fleecing the Department of Social Development of R189 391. 27 between August 2020 and July 2021.
Police arrested him at an upmarket estate in Ballito on the KZN north coast. He allegedly paid R13 000 per month for the apartment.
According to a SASSA spokesperson, a tracking team had been following up on a vehicle that had been hijacked in Ntuzuma, north of Durban.
“The vehicle was found at the house the accused was renting. Upon searching the house, police found 771 white plastic cards including rewards cards,” the spokesperson says.
ALSO READ: SASSA loses over R11 million after 30,000 benefitted improperly from R350 grant
SASSA loses over R50 million to card fraud
Police also found a card skimming device, point of sale machine, laptops, sim cards, and cell phones.
Mzamara was arrested earlier this month. He is due back in court on charges of Contravention of the Social Assistance Act, fraud and theft.
KZN police say the accused appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on November 12 and 16. He is expected to apply for bail on Wednesday.
Since the start of 2021, KZN SAPS has arrested hundreds of suspects on charges of fraud after they were caught with SASSA cards.
According to reports, SASSA lost more than R50 million to card fraud in 2019.
The Department of Social Development revealed that over 20 000 fraud cases were also reported.
A written parliamentary response from Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu to the DA’s Bridget Masango revealed that of the 23 240 cases, 19 448 have been resolved.
The Minister said all the money spent on fraud investigations cost the department around R18m.
ALSO READ: Brothers accused of trying to swindle car dealership out of R700 000



