Thousands of new cases of social grant fraud exposed

The Department of Social Development has announced that more than 35-thousand new cases of social grant fraud have been uncovered. Minister Zola Skweyiya says the crimes came to light through tip-offs to the department's national fraud hotline. The cases cover a two-year period. Last year the Department found that more than 12-thousand public servants were receiving social grants which they were not eligible for. Of these, 750 were successfully prosecuted. More than two thousand officials signed acknowledgements of debt. The investigations against the others continue and a number of court cases are pending.