SASSA denies fraud allegations

January 12, 2024 77

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has refuted social media assertions that the agency took part in fraudulent activity.

The grant payment agency is accused of having paid about R140 million to more than 74 000 dead beneficiaries over the past three years.

The allegations emanate from a written response by Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, to a parliamentary question.

SASSA spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, however says the story has been distorted to paint the agency as corrupt.

Speaking to YNews, Letsatsi said the payments were made prior to the agency being aware of the deceased status of the cited beneficiaries.

According to SASSA, of the 18 million social grant beneficiaries paid monthly, there is an average of 2 055 others who died monthly over the past three years.

The social grant agency came under fire just days after it was revealed that more than 40 000 beneficiaries were yet to be paid their grants.

Letsatsi says suspicious fraudulent activity on affected beneficiaries’ accounts are to blame for this.

He says the agency did contact the beneficiaries to verify their accounts, but didn’t respond to the request.

Dead is a synonym for corrupt govt workers and officials in this instance.

— Penuel The Black Pen (@GodPenuel) January 11, 2024

It’s looks like Social Department is another milky cow for the ANC. If you follow the evidence of CORRUPTION under Ramaphosa surely with open and transparent or fair, Corruption is worsening under Ramaphosa. It could be most corrupt administration since democracy.

— Wind Of Change (@Dumisan01399730) January 11, 2024

There are grannies out there, constantly in debt because they have to borrow money while they wait for SASSA to send what’s rightfully theirs and this is what SASSA is busy doing. https://t.co/FYRlAx1rKb

— Thato (@Thato__M) January 11, 2024