SASSA has set aside R77 million to strengthen fraud investigations and clamp down on ineligible beneficiaries as government moves to protect the integrity of the social grants system.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is intensifying its crackdown on fraud, corruption, and eligibility among beneficiaries within the social grants system, with R77 million set aside for investigations. This as government continues to administer a R293 billion social assistance programme reaching about 27 million people nationwide.
Tabling Budget Vote 19 before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, Acting Minister of Social Development Sindisiwe Chikunga said social assistance remains the backbone of government’s poverty alleviation strategy, consuming 96.7% of the Department of Social Development’s R302 billion budget.
She said the scale of the system reflects the depth of need in the country.
“Approximately 43 percent of the country's population, which is around 27 million people, benefit from social assistance transfers,” Chikunga said.
