Police seeking man selling 'worthless' Sassa cards on social media

15 January 2019 - 16:42 By Ernest Mabuza

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Authorities say stolen Sassa cards that are being offered for sale on the internet and elsewhere are worthless. Furthermore, anyone in possession of one could be charged with having stolen property.
Image: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius

The South African Social Security Agency has expressed concerns about reports of a man who is selling Sassa cards on social media.

In a statement on Tuesday January 15, Sassa said it was working with the post office and the police to get to the bottom of the matter. Sassa said it was following leads that should result in the arrest of a person who seemed to be the mastermind behind the scam.

The agency said the stolen cards were sold for different amounts of money by the scammers.

The @OfficialSASSA is concerned by the case of a man advertising the sale of #SASSA cards on Facebook. #SASSA & @PostofficeSa are currently working with the @SAPoliceService to get to the bottom of this matter https://t.co/ChcF4WHsVT #NewSassaCard #SASSACARES pic.twitter.com/CMGefYHSMK
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) January 15, 2019

"These stolen cards were immediately deactivated and are worthless, so the public is warned not to be tempted to buy them as they are useless," Sassa acting CEO Abraham Mahlangu said.

Mahlangu said no grants could be drawn from the stolen cards and anyone buying them stood to lose out, and if caught, may be charged with possession of stolen property.

Mahlangu said Sassa services were free and not for sale so selling Sassa cards was illegal.