The South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) paid R140 million to beneficiaries who are no longer alive.
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu informed Parliament that, over the past three financial years, 75 000 deceased beneficiaries received grant payments.
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The minister provided information about the significant sums in reply to a written inquiry from the DA’s Jacques Smalle during a parliamentary session, as reported by News24.
In her response, Zulu acknowledged the increasing challenges confronting Sassa.
‘Sassa works closely with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on deceased data validation and conducts monthly checks to confirm the life status of beneficiaries before a payment is generated. Payment is effected to beneficiaries who are confirmed to be alive, as per validation outcomes.’
‘Yes, there are instances where deceased social grant recipients have been wrongly paid. This happens when a grant beneficiary dies after proof of life is confirmed by DHA and when the payment run is released to the beneficiary’s bank account,’ she stated.
In the financial year 2021/2022, Sassa distributed grants to 32 920 beneficiaries who had passed away. The subsequent year saw payments to 26 512 deceased beneficiaries. Sassa made payments to 15 204 dead beneficiaries in the 2023/24 financial year.
In terms of the funds disbursed to the deceased, a substantial R59 million was paid during the 2020/2021 financial year. Another R50 million was paid in 2022/2023, and in 2023/2024, Sassa paid R31 million to beneficiaries who had passed away.
‘To prevent the withdrawal of social grant monies, Sassa freezes the accounts of the deceased beneficiaries through Post Bank and follows up with a letter to the next of kin to return the money to Sassa. Where a withdrawal has already taken place, a Sassa debt recovery process is followed,’ explained Zulu.
About 19 million South African citizens are on government social grants, which totals an annual expense of over R200 billion for taxpayers.
The number of South African citizens relying on social grants rose from 18 677 339 in March 2022 to 18 829 716 by the end of March 2023.
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Verification issues leave over 150 000 Sassa beneficiaries without money
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