SASSA Blocked 74000 Deceased Fraud Accounts in January 2024

In a decisive move aimed at addressing systemic flaws and fraud within its operations, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) blocked 74,000 accounts of deceased individuals in January 2024. This action follows a series of revelations that highlighted significant challenges in verifying the status of beneficiaries, leading to improper payments.

The issue came to light amidst reports that millions of beneficiaries faced delays in receiving their grants due to verification failures earlier in the year. Minister Lindiwe Zulu clarified that the majority of cases where deceased individuals continued to receive payments were due to delays in reporting deaths by family members, rather than outright corruption within national agency.

To tackle this issue head-on, the agency implemented enhanced verification processes, including monthly automated checks in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. These checks were designed to promptly identify and deactivate deceased beneficiaries from the system before monthly payment dates.

The magnitude of the problem was underscored by reports indicating that over the past three years, approximately 74,000 beneficiaries were reported deceased. This alarming figure averages around 2,055 cases per month among the 18 million clients receiving monthly payments from SRD.

The collaboration between the National Agency and the Department of Home Affairs marks a proactive step towards preventing future fraud and ensuring the integrity of social relief grants. By instituting regular checks and leveraging government databases, SASSA aims to reduce instances where funds are disbursed incorrectly significantly.

In response to the challenges faced earlier in January, the agency also announced measures to rectify any double payments made to affected clients during subsequent grant disbursements. This effort underscores the agency’s commitment to accountability and responsible governance of public funds.

Looking ahead, SRD plans to continue enhancing its fraud prevention strategies, including periodic face-to-face reviews with beneficiaries throughout the year. These measures are part of a broader effort to uphold transparency and maintain public trust in the administration of social security benefits.

The recent developments at SRD reflect a renewed focus on combating fraud and improving service delivery to ensure that social grants reach those who genuinely need them. As the agency navigates through these challenges, stakeholders remain hopeful that these proactive measures will lead to a more efficient and accountable system in the months and years to come.