The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has dismissed 43 officials who used the agency’s system to process illegal payments, a crackdown that has so far saved approximately 25 million rand from public funds.
SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi confirmed that the dismissed employees were managing payments that directed money to individuals who had no legitimate claim to it. The fraudulent activity was uncovered after the agency upgraded its security infrastructure, moving away from password-based access to biometric verification, including fingerprint and facial recognition.
“In the past, they would make an allegation once a password of a person has been used. They would say that they were not at work, somebody took their password,” Letsatsi explained. “But in this instance, we have made sure that you do the biometric, and you can’t say someone stole your finger or someone stole your head. You have to account how did the person access the system.”
Despite the enhanced security, Letsatsi acknowledged that some employees continued attempting to defraud the system. “People will try to do everything possible under the sun. You can put whatever measures… when you take 10 steps forward, those who are trying to defraud the system will try and make sure that they take 15 steps ahead of you,” he said. However, he expressed confidence that the current measures are capable of stopping the wrongdoing.
Approximately 7,000 frontline officials have access to the system, each required to use biometrics both to enter offices and to open the system itself. Letsatsi noted that of these, the 43 dismissed individuals represent just 0.005% of staff.
Regarding the money trail, Letsatsi said law enforcement agencies have been able to trace where funds went. About 10 officials have already been arrested in connection with the scheme. He outlined that two processes now apply to the dismissed employees: an internal disciplinary process resulting in their expulsion, followed by referral of their files to police for potential prosecution.
“There are those people who have been convicted who were found to have cheated the system,” Letsatsi said. “You would not want to lose your income. You would not want your children to suffer or your family to suffer because you are trying to steal money from the poor.”
He added that SASSA runs verification processes requiring applicants to confirm their eligibility for grants. Through these measures, the agency has saved roughly 25 million rand from being lost. “We think that 25 million, if it’s saved, it can go and do something better within government,” Letsatsi said.