Johannesburg - SA Social Security Agency communications head Paseka Letsatsi went on voluntary special leave prior to his arrest on fraud charges, the agency said on Friday.
“The CEO Virginia Petersen was made aware of the pending arrest by Mr Letsatsi himself on Wednesday,” said spokesman Kgomoco Diseko.
“She agreed with his voluntary request for a special leave, whilst awaiting the full report from the anti-corruption task team.”
Letsatsi was arrested for fraud on Friday morning along with ANC national executive committee member Pule Mabe and Kabedi Ramosa.
The three men appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court earlier after handing themselves over at the Sunnyside police station around 6am, said Letsatsi's lawyer, Zola Majavu.
Majavu said the three men were released on bail of R10,000. They were expected to appear in court again on February 13. They face charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.
Letsatsi allegedly illegally solicited funds from the agency and gave these to companies owned by Mabe and Ramosa, eNCA reported.
Majavu said the charges against Letsatsi were from 2008 when Fezile Makiwane was the agency's chief executive. Whatever allegedly happened was done within the scope of his employment as head of communications, Majavu said.
Makiwane was dismissed amid allegations of fraud and corruption.
Petersen would await the outcome of the investigations against Letsatsi before deciding on what action to take, Diseko said.
Sapa