Extent of social grant fraud highlights need for Social Assistance Inspectorate
In response to a parliamentary question submitted by the Democratic Alliance (DA), Minister for Social Development Ms Bathabile Dlamini yesterday revealed that the Inspectorate for Social Assistance, mandated to maintain the integrity of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), has not been established- despite being provided for in Chapter 4 of the Social Assistance Act, Act 13 of 2004.
The existence of such a body may well have helped to decrease the high levels of social grant fraud and corruption facing SASSA, which Minister Dlamini yesterday revealed lost R238 046 903 during the financial years 2005 to 2011 as a result of fraud and corruption. SASSA is the agency responsible for administering social services grants to the most poverty stricken South Africans.
Many recipients are largely dependent on grants to survive- making the need for reform of SASSA even more pressing, and the absence of an Inspectorate for Social Assistance even more concerning.
Copies of the parliamentary questions refering to social grant fraud dated 10 February 2011, can be found here; while parliamentary questions refering to the establishment of the Inspectorate for Social Assistance dated 1 April 2011, can be found here.
SASSA's long history of mismanagement clearly demonstrates the need for robust oversight to ensure the integrity and accountability of this important body. In 2009, R2.5 million was allegedly transferred from SASSA to President Zuma's election campaign- a matter which the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is currently investigating at the DA's request.
In 2010, SASSA was unable to submit its annual report on time due to the disarray of its financial affairs. In addition, according to a parliamentary reply received earlier this year, SASSA is functioning with an almost 60% vacancy rate. All of the above points to a body in urgent need of stringent oversight.
The DA believes that the establishment of a robust Inspectorate for Social Assistance will help to get SASSA back on track, and enable it to better assist those impoverished South Africans it was created to serve.
To achieve this end, I shall be recommending that an Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee be formed to monitor the effective establishment of such a body. The DA believes that the introduction of a robust Inspectorate is of the utmost priority if the mismanagement and corruption that is rampant in SASSA is to be abated.
Statement issued by Patricia Kopane MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, May 31 2011
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