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Minister Zulu must improve proof of life checks

Dear Editor

The DA notes Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu’s excuses regarding the R 141 556 000 in social grants that have been paid to deceased recipients over the past three years.

This was due to beneficiaries being reported as dead to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) after proof of life was obtained from them by the Department of Social Development (DSD).

Given the millions paid to deceased beneficiaries, Minister Zulu should consider moving proof of life checks closer to payment dates.

The DA also finds it disingenuous that Minister Zulu is trying to blame vulnerable and distraught family members for not reporting the deaths of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries when they are unable to contact SASSA offices.

Last year the DA found that only 4.7% of the 212 SASSA offices we contacted answered their phones, while only 48 (22.6%) had a working telephone line. The remainder had outdated numbers or no telephone numbers available at all.

Another DA PQ revealed that in 2023 a total of 39 645 public servants contravened the Social Assistance Act and fraudulently received grants. To date, SASSA has only opened 1 815 cases at the South African Police Service (SAPS) and only 42 public servants have faced consequence management.

The DA will submit follow-up questions to the Minister in order to ascertain how much of the money erroneously paid has been recovered through the SASSA debt recovery systems.

We also call on the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to conduct an audit to determine what percentage of deaths in South Africa is reported within 72 hours as required.

Furthermore, we will request an investigation to determine whether these wrongful payments form part of a scheme to defraud the State, thus harming South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

Regards

Bridget Masango MP
DA Shadow Minister of Social Development

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