Fourteen illegal money-lenders who were arrested by the Hawks in East London on Monday for in the possession of hundreds of SASSA pension cards were granted bail of R500 each in the City's Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Charges were dropped against five others who were arrested in the swoop on Hemingway Mall by the Hawks and officials from the SA Social Security Agency's Fraud and Compliance Unit.
Officials also seized around R112 000 in cash, which had been withdrawn from the accounts of grant beneficiaries.
The accused have been charged with contravening the National Credit Act, which includes the possession of a government social grant card which belongs to someone else.
The ten women and four men are between the ages of 25 and 50.
In granting bail, Magistrate Kevin Von Bratt said that they should not interfere or communicate with any of the witnesses in the matter.
The case was postponed to the 2nd of August for further investigation.
