More time needed to probe grant vulnerabilities - Tolashe

Last month, two first-year students from Stellenbosch University uncovered vulnerabilities and instances of fraud within the application system - while examining government and private-sector systems as part of their academic studies.

Computer science students Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai discovered that the system is vulnerable to fraud after realising their own IDs were used to apply for SRD grants, they never applied for.

SASSA was summoned to Parliament to account after the students exposed how the R350 SRD application system could be defrauded.

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe gave an update on Wednesday afternoon following a 30-day probe.

“The investigation is not yet conclusive for us to be able to say how many IDs were stolen, how much money did we lose. Hence, we went to Parliament before the portfolio committee, and requested an extension so that we can delve deeper and get to know those fundamental issues.”

Sassa has a budget of R266 billion allocated for disbursement to an estimated 28 million recipients. Included in this number is around 9 million eligible beneficiaries receiving the SRD grant.

Tolashe said that a further probe would determine whether any officials should be held accountable.

“If there’s anywhere or any time that people have dropped the ball, surely consequence management has to be employed. We’re dealing with limited resources that South Africa has in making sure that they deal with the poverty eradication.”

The minister vowed to be transparent about the final findings of the deeper probe when it is concluded.

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