'Faked birth certificates for non-existent children and used these to apply for grants'

Five Limpopo women have appeared in court for alleged grant fraud, police said on Sunday.  

The women, from Ga-Sekororo, allegedly faked birth certificates for non-existent children and used these to apply for social grants, said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

He said they appeared in court last week, when they were released on bail of R500 each. They would appear again in the Naphuno Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Police were still looking for a sixth suspect.

• Mulaudzi said six other women, also from Ga-Sekororo, were arrested on similar charges earlier this year.

He said police were investigating whether any home affairs officials were linked to the scam.