POLICE in Transkei believe they have made a major breakthrough into an identity document fraud scam after arresting seven suspects.
They were found with more than 200 government documents including ID books, matric certificates, birth certificates, social grant smart cards and bank debit cards .
Those arrested appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of fraud and the case was postponed to Thursday for a formal bail application.
Two of the suspects – Bonga Boyce, 39, of Nomhala village in Tsolo, and Xolani Gangatha, 37, of Mthatha – are employed at the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in Mthatha.
The five other suspects are Bulelwa Gqithiyeza, 44; Tumani Nyangiwe, 56; Nomiselo Goniwe, 40; Nontsapho Ntaka, 44; and Ntombikhona Mfebe, 42.
Police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said police had been following the suspects since November last year.
“We have had their movements under surveillance and we decided on Friday we must pounce,” he said.
Police believe they are part of a syndicate operating in and around Mthatha since before 2004.
“Definitely there are other people connected with Sassa and Home Affairs working in cahoots with the arrested ones. This is a breakthrough,” said Fatyela.
The haul included 70 ID books, about 100 birth certificates, 31 children’s clinic cards, 16 newly released clinic cards, 23 social grants smart cards, 17 cards from different financial banks and 10 Grade 12 certificates.
Fatyela said police believed the suspects were selling birth certificates for R200 to anyone wanting social grants . —
Police swoop on suspected ID fraud gang
They were found with more than 200 government documents including ID books, matric certificates, birth certificates, social grant smart cards and bank debit cards .
Those arrested appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of fraud and the case was postponed to Thursday for a formal bail application.
Two of the suspects – Bonga Boyce, 39, of Nomhala village in Tsolo, and Xolani Gangatha, 37, of Mthatha – are employed at the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in Mthatha.
The five other suspects are Bulelwa Gqithiyeza, 44; Tumani Nyangiwe, 56; Nomiselo Goniwe, 40; Nontsapho Ntaka, 44; and Ntombikhona Mfebe, 42.
Police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said police had been following the suspects since November last year.
“We have had their movements under surveillance and we decided on Friday we must pounce,” he said.
Police believe they are part of a syndicate operating in and around Mthatha since before 2004.
“Definitely there are other people connected with Sassa and Home Affairs working in cahoots with the arrested ones. This is a breakthrough,” said Fatyela.
The haul included 70 ID books, about 100 birth certificates, 31 children’s clinic cards, 16 newly released clinic cards, 23 social grants smart cards, 17 cards from different financial banks and 10 Grade 12 certificates.
Fatyela said police believed the suspects were selling birth certificates for R200 to anyone wanting social grants . —
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