Here’s what you are able to do should you suspect somebody stole your SASSA grant. The South African Social Security Agency is beneath intense scrutiny following reviews of large-scale id theft and fraud. Constant media consideration has put Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s management beneath the microscope.

Nevertheless, regardless that the Auditor-General of SA believes the company has underspent by as a lot as R4 billion during the last monetary 12 months, with mismanagement occurring through the reign of the earlier minister, the place does this go away SASSA beneficiaries? Practically, should you suspect somebody stole your SASSA grant, right here’s your recourse …

SOMEONE STOLE YOUR SASSA GRANT?

According to The Citizen, the Department of Social Development (DSD) has been given simply 30 days to research vulnerabilities of ‘identity theft within the existing social grant system’. This follows damning allegations by two first-year Stellenbosch University laptop science college students who declare to have had their ID numbers stolen to defraud the SASSA SRD R370 grant.

Nevertheless, what are you able to do on a sensible stage if somebody stole your SASSA grant? Well, company spokesperson Sandy Godlwana advised The Citizen, it’s a drawback confronted by many grant candidates nationally. And the company is campaigning to raised educate the folks. “We are aware of incidents where individuals’ details have been fraudulently used to claim the COVID-19 SRD R370 grant without their knowledge. As a result, the agency is committed to addressing and preventing fraud within the social grant system,” mentioned Godlwana.

FOUR STEPS

So, right here’s what you do should you suspected somebody stole your SASSA grant:

• If you don’t need to get up early and courageous the queues, you possibly can at all times apply for an appointment slot on-line by means of the SASSA Services Portal after which arrive and be served inside the designated timeframe. Note that we can not vouch for the efficacy of this method because it was offline for an prolonged interval in October.

• Thirdly, you possibly can think about emailing the company. Send an authorized copy of your ID and an in depth report of your challenge to grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za. Alternatively, you possibly can even electronic mail the Office of the Presidency, which has to supply public help on any authorities division at president@presidency.gov.za.

• Fourth and eventually, name SASSA’s toll-free and head workplaces numbers: 012 400 2322 / 0800 601 011.

DEPARTMENT SPURNED INTO ACTION

Following the damning revelations of id theft in October, the Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe was spurned into motion. She has assured the general public that any suspected fraud will result in ‘referrals’ and promptly suspended SASSA profiles. A report-back to parliament is anticipated earlier than the tip of November.

The minister says the division has a ‘culture of procrastination’ and has been ‘found wanting’ on this challenge. Likewise, she says the division’s giant annual funds – R357 billion – “makes it attractive to criminals who try to exploit the system.” Nevertheless, the company says it has a minimum of recouped R150 million in Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments made to ineligible beneficiaries.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY SASSA GRANT THEFT?

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