The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is concerned about the increase in identity theft in the Eastern Cape’s rural areas, with 17 cases of fraud flagged in Dutywa.
The agency has, as a result, implemented control measures in an effort to block the alleged syndicate operating within its systems.
This was revealed by Sassa regional manager Bandile Maqetuka, who said the syndicate had targeted R350 social relief of distress grant (SRD) applicants, with many in the province falling victim to identity theft.
“We have noted that SRD grant recipients, when they apply at our offices, they are told they are already getting a grant in another province. There is a syndicate stealing identities of people and putting in applications,” he said.
“In Dutywa we have about 17 cases of people with surnames which are not familiar within Dutywa. We have a certain Ramaphosa who applied for a grant. There are no Ramaphosas in Dutywa.”
Maqetuka also revealed a case in Dutywa where a resident went to their office with an ID bearing an image of a person wearing a panama hat and sunglasses.
“There’s no way home affairs can take an ID photo of you having a panama, but our official was busy processing that application. He was arrested on site, and when we charged him, he pleaded guilty. He’s a former employee.”
As part of the agency’s control measures, Maqetuka said they had signed a memorandum of understanding with the department of home affairs for identity verification.
We are establishing a war room, where we are devising means to prevent this, because we don’t want to allow fraud to happen and then run after people
— Bandile Maqetuka, Sassa Eastern Cape regional manager
The agency has recorded a loss of R4.3m due to fraudulent grant activities since 2018.
In recent months the agency has suspended seven of its staff members suspected of having committed fraud and their cases have been referred for criminal investigation. Of the seven suspended staff members, five were from Qonce, one from Gqeberha and one from Dutywa.
“We know there will be a bit of inconvenience to the citizens. But we’re dealing with public funds and we are expected to account for each cent that is entrusted to us. These control measures will save the government a lot of money,” said Maqetuka.
“We are establishing a war room, where we are devising means to prevent this, because we don’t want to allow fraud to happen and then run after people.”
Newly appointed Sassa CEO Themba Matlou said they have appointed a team of auditors to assess the vulnerability of their system and they have picked up a number of issues.
“We need to put in a system that prevents unscrupulous activities, so that deserving people can still receive their grants,” he said.
Matlou said the agency had delayed 210,000 grant payments across the country amid concerns about undisclosed income.
Grant recipients are obliged to inform Sassa of changes in their financial situation, he added. Once this was picked up, people are sent SMSs or letters. “But if you’re not coming forward, we either assume you’re ignoring us or you’ve changed your contact details.
“The only thing to do then is to stop your money. We know you’ll come running.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.