SASSA says officials found manipulating the social grant system by bypassing biometric verification will face criminal charges. Image: FILE
Social Grant
1Min
South Africa
SASSA vows to dismiss and prosecute officials who bypass biometric grant system
SASSA says officials found manipulating the social grant system by bypassing biometric verification will face criminal charges, dismissal, and asset recovery as the agency intensifies its crackdown on fraud and corruption.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has warned that officials who bypass its biometric verification system to process, verify or approve fraudulent social grant applications will face criminal charges, dismissal, and legal action to recover losses suffered by the state.
SASSA Chief Executive Officer Themba Matlou said the agency is stepping up efforts to eliminate fraud and corruption within the social grant system, ensuring that grants are paid only to eligible beneficiaries.
Matlou revealed that SASSA will seek preservation orders through the High Courts against the Government Employees Pension Fund benefits of officials involved in fraudulent grant approvals. The agency intends to recover financial losses from officials responsible for capturing, verifying and approving irregular applications.
"We have introduced various measures to root out fraudulent and corrupt elements at SASSA, and we are not going to rest until we have officials who are ready to serve our people with integrity," Matlou said.
He said the introduction of the Beneficiary Biometric Enrolment system is aimed at preventing identity theft and ensuring that social grants reach deserving recipients.
While SASSA continues reviewing grants to identify undeserving beneficiaries, Matlou said the agency is also focusing on internal accountability by targeting officials who facilitate fraudulent activities.
"It is not a secret that some of our officials have been found to have transgressed processes to enable corruption. During the last financial years, we dismissed about 43 officials who were found guilty of such misconduct," he said.
Matlou reaffirmed SASSA's commitment to strengthening the integrity of the social grant system and vowed to intensify anti-corruption measures during the current financial year.
The renewed crackdown comes as SASSA marks its 20th anniversary since its establishment in 2006, with the agency pledging to continue rooting out corruption and protecting public funds.
