The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has revealed that the search for an 11th suspect in the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) card syndicate case has been intensified with SASSA confirming that the suspect is one of their female employees.

SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi told members of the media gathered at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court where 10 of the 11 suspects appeared for their bail application on Tuesday.

"We will not stop until all these individuals have been arrested. The net is widening, and we are not going to stop the manhunt. We have 10 suspects at this stage, but those who are SASSA employees are seven, and three are members of the public and were working hand in hand with SASSA officials, in terms of defrauding the system," he said.

On Tuesday, 10 of the suspects with masks on appeared in court for their bail application. The 10 suspects who were arrested on Friday in connection with a R260 million SASSA fraud case are reported to have created fake profiles and committed identity fraud in order to withdraw funds from SASSA pay points.

As investigations intensify and the search for the 11th suspect continues, Letsatsi indicated that the police will leave no stone unturned in the search for the suspect who remains at large.

"We know that there is one suspect who remains at large, but we are certain that the SAPS will eventually arrest them," he said.

On Monday, NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, indicated that the State would be opposing bail in the matter as it has a strong case against the accused.

The NPA added that it has added more than 1 000 charges with the possibility of more charges and more other suspects being sought after the first five suspects appeared for charges of theft, fraud, and contravention of the Cybercrime Act on Monday.

"We have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests and neither have we ruled out the possibility of adding more charges to the charges that have already been added," she said.

On Monday, the State revealed the names of the first five as Phumzile Dlamini, Paul Bones, Phumelele Myeza, Keamogetswe Ledwaba, and Phiwe Mkhuzangwe.

Bones, Dlamini, and Mkhuzangwe were arrested at the SASSA branch in Johannesburg on Friday, while Ledwaba was taken into custody at her residence in Soweto, and Myeza is said to have surrendered to the authorities voluntarily on Sunday.

On Tuesday, IOL reported that the bust was welcomed by the chairperson of the portfolio committee on social development, Bridget Masango, who stated: "When corruption is allowed to thrive in institutions that provide important social welfare services such as SASSA, it is the vulnerable beneficiaries who suffer the most."

The matter was postponed to April 1 for a formal bail application, pending the arrest of one other suspect, reported to be on the run.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za