By BAKANG MOKOTO
24 October 2024- The Portfolio Committee on Social Development calls on the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe to conduct an investigation into the weaknesses identified in the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant application and payment system.
These weaknesses have created a loophole that enabled fraudsters to illegally apply for and receive the grant using the ID numbers of unsuspecting South African citizens.
Chairperson of the Committee, Bridget Masango received a briefing from Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai (First-year University of Stellenbosch students). Masango said the two students identified vulnerabilities in the SRD grant application and payment system through an informal on-campus survey they conducted after they realised that they were unable to apply for the grant.
“The system reported that they had already applied for and received the grant, even though they did not apply for this grant nor receive any payments.
“The students emphasised that they had conducted the survey and published their findings out of concern that the fraud in the system robbed the poor and vulnerable, particularly the youth, out of the social protection they need,” she said.
Masango further said they applaud Cedras and Gosai’s bravery in coming out with their findings, which they view in a very serious light. She added that the committee members pointed out that they had raised these challenges with SASSA and the department on several occasions over the years.
“Other members of the public had also alerted SASSA to this challenge, but no action was taken. These weaknesses in the system exclude deserving people from applying for the grant, committee members acknowledged.
“Due to the seriousness of the students’ findings, the committee resolved to give the department and SASSA 30 days to conduct a full investigation into the matter and to thereafter present a detailed report to the committee, as per the request of the Minister,” said Masango.
She said as public representatives responsible for overseeing the department and SASSA, it is important that they ensure that these allegations are investigated and SASSA is given an opportunity to respond to them. Masango said the committee welcomed the commitment from Tolashe to initiate an investigation into the matter.
“It recommended that SASSA should conduct vulnerability assessments and testing of the SRD grant system to ensure that weaknesses are addressed,” she said.
The Guardian 