TSHIDIMBINI - Thohoyandou police arrested a 24-year-old woman for fraudulently continuing to collect her baby boy’s government child support grant even after the death of the particular child.

The woman, who stays at the rural village of Tshidimbini, north of Thohoyandou, was arrested on Tuesday last week at the village pay point.

Police spokesperson Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi confirmed the arrest and said police acted on a tip-off from the community members, which led to the arrest of the suspect. “The woman’s child was nine months old when he died in August 2003. Despite the death of her child, she continued to collect the government child support grant until we arrested her on Tuesday. Members of the Thohoyandou police arrested her while she was collecting the money at Tshidimbini pay point. She is still in custody and she will appear in court soon,” said Mushavhanamadi.

Mushavhanamadi warned other members of the community who continue to receive child grants fraudulently. “We are conducting a massive investigation on all people who are acquiring the grants illegally. We request members of the community to work with the police to identify the cheats so that they may face the wrath of the law.”