Portfolio Committee on Social Development Chairperson Bridget Masango has warned that while SASSA’s verification drive is saving R44 million per month by curbing fraud, it is also leaving some vulnerable beneficiaries without access to much-needed social grant payments.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reported monthly savings of approximately R44 million following the rollout of stringent beneficiary verification measures introduced under conditions set by the National Treasury, but Parliament has raised concern over the unintended impact on vulnerable grant recipients.
This emerged during remarks by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Bridget Masango, at the Social Services Cluster media briefing on Sunday, where she detailed progress and challenges in the country’s social protection system as reported by IOL.
The verification process includes biometric registration, bank account verification and life certification checks aimed at eliminating fraud, including so-called “ghost beneficiaries” and payments to ineligible recipients.
According to Masango, the interventions are already producing measurable financial gains.
