The women were sentenced in the Nelspruit Serious Commercial Crime Court on Thursday, 27 February 2025.

The convicts, Nonhlanhla Madalane (36), Tswarelo Masuku (32), Nelile Shiba (29) and Prudence Nkosi (31) allegedly colluded with unknown health workers and received fraudulant proof of children’s birth. 

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They then registered the ghost children with the Department of Home Affairs and acquired birth certificates. They all used the birth certificates to access child support grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

An anonymous whistleblower reported the criminal activities to the Public Service Commission. The commission decentralised the complainant to the province. The matter was allocated to the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further handling. The investigation revealed that the fraudulant activities dated back from 2012 until they were reported in 2023.

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The six women were arrested and released on bail in May 2023. They made several court appearances until they were sentenced to five years imprisonment each. They were also ordered to pay back the money lost by SASSA in installments.

Madalane was ordered to pay back R20 330.64, Masuku, to pay back R20 238.23, both Shiba and Nkosi, to pay back R10 344.00 each.

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