SASSA addresses payment to 74 000 deceased beneficiaries

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) responded to recent reports on SABC 404, acknowledging that over 74 000 deceased beneficiaries were mistakenly paid.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu clarified that while corruption investigations are ongoing, the majority of errors stem from delayed death reporting by families compared to SASSA’s monthly beneficiary check with the Department of Home Affairs.

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“As much as we are aware of some corrupt activities taking place which our Fraud and compliance unit is dealing with on a daily basis, as SASSA we can confirm that majority of this is not due to corruption but rather due to timing of reporting of death by the responsible family members vs the date on which SASSA Extracts Payments for the affected clients, ”

SASSA

SASSA enhances payout security

SASSA’s standard process involves automated monthly comparisons to verify beneficiary status, deactivating records of deceased individuals prior to payment extraction.

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Unfortunately, late death reporting can lead to premature payments. SASSA conducts periodic face-to-face reviews to validate beneficiary information. The 74 000 reported deaths over three years constitute a mere 0.01% of the 18 million monthly clients.

Acknowledging challenges, SASSA emphasised its collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs to enhance system connectivity, aiming to prevent corruption. The agency is committed to working with law enforcement, having previously collaborated with HAWKS.

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Organisation implements anti-fraud strategy and promotes vigilance

A robust fraud-prevention strategy aligned with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy is in place, with ongoing awareness campaigns to promote vigilance and integrity within the organisation.

SASSA reassures the public of its dedication to addressing challenges, maintaining transparency, and strengthening collaborations for organisational improvement.

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