A former professional nurse from Limpopo has been arrested for her alleged role in a disability grant fraud scheme that reportedly cost the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) around R50,000.
57-year-old Agnes Mohale, who previously worked at the Department of Health’s Botlokwa Clinic, was apprehended by the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit following a months-long investigation into fraudulent disability grant applications.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, concerns were first raised in April 2024 when authorities discovered that several community members were receiving disability grants despite not qualifying.
“On 11 April 2024, a fraud case was opened at Botlokwa SAPS after it emerged that the accused had been assisting community members to apply for SASSA disability grants despite them not being disabled or meeting the criteria,” Ledwaba said.
Investigators allege that Mohale completed SASSA disability application forms and even signed them on behalf of a medical doctor without authorization. These falsified documents allegedly allowed multiple ineligible individuals to receive payouts, resulting in financial losses to SASSA.
Mohale was initially arrested on April 17, 2024, and later released on warning after the case was withdrawn pending further investigation. The matter was subsequently transferred to the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, which uncovered additional evidence directly linking her to the fraudulent activities.
The investigation was reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who authorized a formal arrest warrant. Mohale was taken into custody in Botlokwa and is scheduled to appear in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court on November 27, 2025.
Ledwaba confirmed that she will be served with a summons to join the main accused during the upcoming court appearance.
Local residents expressed shock and disappointment, saying the alleged fraud harms vulnerable individuals who rely on disability grants for survival. Online discussions also raised concerns about monitoring within SASSA and called for stronger oversight to prevent similar abuses.
One community member, speaking anonymously, said, “It’s heartbreaking to think that people in genuine need might lose out because of someone abusing the system. Trust is broken, and it will take time to restore it.”
