Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Alexandra Abrahams MP.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Portfolio Committee on Social Development’s decision to request an urgent response from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) regarding the reported weaknesses in the social grant payment system. We commend the committee for taking swift action following the revelations by GroundUp on 14 October 2024, which highlighted potential fraud and inefficiencies, particularly in the application process for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
It is crucial that SASSA addresses these concerns in detail during the scheduled meeting on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, and that the agency is held accountable for ensuring the integrity of the social grant system. The invitation extended to the authors of the GroundUp report, to present their findings, is an important step towards transparency and will provide the committee with valuable insights into the alleged shortcomings.
We have consistently raised concerns about communication issues within SASSA, which remain a significant challenge. Furthermore, the persistent payment of SRD grants to ineligible applicants has long been flagged as a serious risk. These issues were also highlighted in a recent report by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA).
We urge those affected by issues with the SRD grant payment system to share their experiences by emailing us at fightcorruption@da.org.za. The Democratic Alliance is committed to exposing weaknesses and fraud within the social grant system and fighting for South Africans. This information helps us gather critical data to support our case and bring justice. While we cannot resolve individual cases at this time, these submissions play a vital role in identifying patterns of corruption and inefficiencies, and we will hold those responsible to account. The DA will continue to monitor these developments closely, as the protection of vulnerable citizens who depend on social grants is a top priority. We urge SASSA to engage constructively and provide concrete solutions to prevent any further weaknesses in the system.
We look forward to the outcomes of this critical meeting and the steps that will be taken to strengthen the social grant payment process for the benefit of all South Africans.