The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has vowed to tighten the screws on people who submit false information in their applications for food parcels.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has vowed to tighten the screws on people who submit false information in their applications for food parcels.
This follows reports that government employees are among those across South Africa illegally benefiting from the Social Relief of Distress programme.
The announcement was made by SASSA's local office manager, Zolile Makile, during an IDP imbizo at the Extension 9 Hall recently.
Makile did not say to what extent the fraud was prevalent in Makana.
The agency has received R2 million for the Sarah Baartman region for the programme.
Makile said the agency would work closely with the department of social development in an effort to make sure the food parcels did not benefit the wrong people.
"Once an applicant has submitted their information to claim relief, social workers will follow up and go door-to-door in order to check the merit of the claim. They will visit homes to investigate if the person is truly in distress".
Makile said cases had been reported in which well-off people, including government employees, were benefiting from social relief.
He was invited to address residents attending the imbizo on SASSA works and future programmes.
The municipality has scheduled 14 imbizos intended to provide a platform for Makana residents to question and comment on the draft integrated development plan (IDP) for the coming year.
Makile said the agency would also be reviewing the contract with the company hired to pay out social grants, Cash Payment Service.
This was after pensioners complained of unauthorised deductions and service charges.
The contract to pay social grants was awarded in 2012 to Cash Payment Service – a wholly owned subsidiary of NET 1.
According to a September 2014 media statement from Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, the rate of debit deductions from grant beneficiaries appeared to increase significantly following the company's appointment.
The deductions were made from SASSA-branded Grindrod bank accounts into which the grants are paid.
According to the statement, Dlamini's team found evidence of other financial institutions that may be linked to Net 1, which offers financial products – including micro-loans – to grant beneficiaries.
The deductions associated with these products are then electronically removed within the national payment system.
Dlamini said, "These practices are in contravention of the Social Assistance Act, regulations of the Social Assistance Act and the SASSA Act". "Legislation allows for the social grants not to be burdened or ceded and allows for one deduction not exceeding 10 percent for funeral insurance only," Dlamini said in the statement.
He added that access to grant beneficiaries' confidential data – including identity numbers, bank account and contact details and biometric data – appeared to fuel the marketing and sale of financial products including loans, the Umoya Manje products of advance airtime and electricity coupons.
