Did SASSA Take Action on Improper Grants?

SASSA started restricting improper grants because The South African Social Security Agency has been facing issues with SASSA grants, particularly SRD! The agency is taking several steps and actions on improper grants to minimize the sufferings of beneficiaries and to make sure the grant is disbursed to the right people. According to the officials, the changes are being made to prevent fraudulent activities. 

Recently, in June, just a week before the payment dates, many SRD R 370 grant holders received a message from SASSA that they have to complete biometric identity verification to receive their grant and they have been placed on “Referred Status.”

They were given no proper information about this and as a result, many of them did not receive their grants. Afterward, it came to the notice that those who received this message about their application status shift were either suspected of having committed fraud or had been the victim of fraud.

They then ask to verify their identity via biometric identity verification. They have to provide their high-quality picture via online procedure. SASSA officials then matched their photographs with government databases with the use of facial recognition software to minimize the chances of fraud.

Moreover, because many of the applicants borrow other people’s phones to apply for the grant, this, at times, creates a serious problem because when SASSA sends those applicants requests for biometric verification or further information, they do not receive it. 

• Taking steps, SASSA recently launched a pilot scheme in Nelson Mandela Bay. In this, the beneficiaries can easily visit the SASSA office to use laptops, Wi-Fi, and webcams to complete biometric verification. 

• Moreover, SASSA has also stated that in case you need to update your contact or make amendments to your banking details, you must undergo biometric verification again.

• Furthermore, while taking action against illegal payments to ineligible beneficiaries, SASSA has recouped around R 150 million in SRD grant payments that were completely made illegally.

Similarly, the Auditor General also revealed that around R15 million grant payments were made to people who have died just because their deaths were not registered immediately. Moreover, it was also revealed that 1.5 million social grants were paid to post-bank employees and SASSA employees, which is not allowed. 

• SASSA is now working on the development of verification plans to check for the eligibility of the applicants to make sure they are eligible and need financial assistance. Eligibility criteria for SRD R370 grant has been updated see here https://srd-sassa-gov.co.za/.

The Auditor General has strictly asked SASSA to make amendments to the verification systems for beneficiaries to make sure that the grants they are disbursing are reaching needy people. 

Moreover, because SASSA has managed to get back  R 150 million in grant payments that were made illegally to ineligible beneficiaries, we have hope that the officials will deal with all of these issues and sort them out soon.

There is no doubt the officials of SASSA are taking strict actions against fraud, irregularities, and improper grant disbursement. Still, questions are rising about the efficiency and effectiveness of the SASSA management system and how the organization is dealing with these issues!