Someone STOLE your SASSA grant: Now WHAT?

Here’s what you can do if you suspect someone stole your SASSA grant. The South African Social Security Agency is under intense scrutiny following reports of large-scale identity theft and fraud. Constant media attention has put Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s leadership under the microscope.

Nevertheless, even though the Auditor-General of SA believes the agency has underspent by as much as R4 billion over the last financial year, with mismanagement occurring during the reign of the previous minister, where does this leave SASSA beneficiaries? Practically, if you suspect someone stole your SASSA grant, here’s your recourse …

SOMEONE STOLE YOUR SASSA GRANT?

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

Nevertheless, what can you do on a practical level if someone stole your SASSA grant? Well, agency spokesperson Sandy Godlwana told The Citizen, it is a problem faced by many grant applicants nationally. And the agency is campaigning to better educate the people. “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,” said Godlwana.

FOUR STEPS

So, here’s what you do if you suspected someone stole your SASSA grant:

• Firstly, you can visit a SASSA branch or office in person.

• If you don’t want to wake up early and brave the queues, you can always apply for an appointment slot online through the SASSA Services Portal and then arrive and be served within the designated timeframe. Note that we cannot vouch for the efficacy of this system as it was offline for an extended period in October.

• Thirdly, you can consider emailing the agency. Send a certified copy of your ID and a detailed report of your issue to grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za. Alternatively, you can even email the Office of the Presidency, which has to provide public assistance on any government department at president@presidency.gov.za.

• Fourth and finally, call SASSA’s toll-free and head offices numbers: 012 400 2322 / 0800 601 011.

DEPARTMENT SPURNED INTO ACTION

Following the damning revelations of identity theft in October, the Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe was spurned into action. She has assured the public that any suspected fraud will lead to ‘referrals’ and promptly suspended SASSA profiles. A report-back to parliament is expected before the end of November.

The minister says the department has a ‘culture of procrastination’ and has been ‘found wanting’ on this issue. Likewise, she says the department’s large annual budget – R357 billion – “makes it attractive to criminals who try to exploit the system.” Nevertheless, the agency says it has at least 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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