Johannesburg - Gauteng police confirmed they were investigating a fraud case after five men were busted with 46 Sassa cards as well as R29 000.
The incident took place last week in Randfontein and was carried out together with the South African Social Security Agency, police said on Monday.
According to Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, police pounced on the five following a tip-off.
"Police observed several ATMs at the Village Square in Randfontein and confronted the suspects while they were withdrawing money from ATM machines belonging to several banks.
"On searching the suspects, police seized [46] Sassa cards that had been registered to numerous people. Files containing pin numbers of people believed to have borrowed money from the suspects were also confiscated."
A number of identity books were also seized during the incident by police.
Dlamini confirmed that the five, aged between 45 and 58, were then arrested and face several charges including fraud, theft and contravention of the National Credit Act.
He added that the card holders would also likely face prosecution as it was an offence to allow people access to their cards.
"It is an offence in terms of the Social Assistance Act and National Credit Act for any person to use a card on behalf of another person," he said.
The suspects have since appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court to face the charges.