In a startling turn of events, Mamello Kate Khabo, a 48-year-old mother from Bloemfontein, has been convicted and sentenced for defrauding the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) out of a staggering R400,000. The Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence last week after Khabo was found guilty of medical aid fraud, following a meticulous investigation by the Hawks.
The case revolves around Khabo’s actions in 2022, when she admitted her sick daughter—who was not covered by the GEMS medical aid—into a hospital. In an audacious move, she used the identity of her other daughter, who was a registered beneficiary of GEMS, to cover the medical expenses. The fraudulent claims for medical services amounted to over R400,000, which Khabo successfully submitted under false pretenses.
The drama unfolded after Khabo’s daughter was transferred from Busamed Private Hospital to MediClinic in Bloemfontein, where she tragically passed away. When it came time to register her daughter’s death, Khabo was forced to admit that she had used her surviving daughter’s identity for the fraudulent hospital admission.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, spokesperson for the Hawks in Free State, the investigation uncovered sufficient evidence to charge Khabo, who was arrested in November 2023. She was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison, which was wholly suspended for five years, contingent on her avoiding any further convictions for similar crimes during the period of suspension.
In a separate case, the Hawks also reported a fraud case involving a psychologist, Penelope Homu, from Limpopo. Homu was found guilty of submitting false medical claims to the Platinum Health Medical Scheme (PHMS) between 2020 and 2021. After pleading guilty to charges of fraud, she was sentenced to a fine of R120,000 or five years imprisonment and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
These cases highlight the ongoing efforts by authorities to combat fraud within South Africa’s healthcare system, as well as the severe consequences faced by those who attempt to deceive medical aid schemes for personal gain. The sentencing of Mamello Kate Khabo serves as a stark reminder that such fraudulent activities will not be tolerated and will be met with significant legal repercussions.
