70-year-old pensioner accused of fraudulently claiming R100,000 in SASSA payments amid SAPS tender scandal

Salamina Khoza, a 70-year-old pensioner, has been charged with fraud and theft after allegedly receiving over R100,000 in old-age pension payments from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) between September 2014 and August 2022.

The charges stem from her being listed as the sole director of three companies, Isasalethu Construction and Office Consumables, Sifikile Furniture and Projects, and Siyanqoba Trading and Projects which collectively secured tenders worth more than R60 million from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The state claims Khoza committed perjury by failing to disclose this income on her SASSA grant application, thereby violating the Social Assistance Act, which mandates recipients to report any significant financial changes.

On March 12, 2025, the Pretoria North Regional Court postponed her case to July 22, 2025, for trial, as reported by TimesLIVE.

In addition to the fraud and theft charges related to the SASSA payments, Khoza faces separate corruption charges linked to the irregular SAPS tenders.