By Jarryd Westerdale
Digital Journalist
Gauteng Post Office Manager Accused of R2.2 Million SASSA Fraud
A 54-year-old post office manager, Sepheka Stephen Masooa, has been arrested and charged with 80 counts of theft and fraud for allegedly diverting millions intended for vulnerable SASSA recipients into the accounts of “ghost recipients.”
Masooa, based at the Stretford Post Office near Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, allegedly carried out the fraudulent transactions in 2020, with a case only being opened against him in 2022. The Hawks investigation uncovered that Masooa channeled R2.2 million through the post office’s payment system.
According to Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha, fictitious accounting entries were made on the Webripost system that reflected payments to non-existent beneficiaries. Internal audits flagged these inflated entries, which were not supported by any valid documentation or recipient bio-files.
Masooa’s fraudulent activity was reportedly carried out during the post office’s off-hours, either early in the morning or in the evenings, which led to suspicions about the legitimacy of the transactions.
Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa expressed satisfaction over the arrest, warning that other potential accomplices would soon face justice for exploiting vulnerable members of society. “Greedy individuals who use unscrupulous methods to defraud state entities, especially SASSA, will be held accountable,” Kadwa said.
Masooa remains in custody, awaiting his next court appearance on 21 June, where he will be represented by a legal representative.
