The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) paid recipients who have passed away R140 million over the last three fiscal years; which is money that cannot be recouped.
In a written response to a legislative question and answer, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu disclosed this, stating that the money was given to almost 75,000 deceased individuals.
In response, Zulu stated that SASSA disbursed R59 million in 2020–2021; R50 million in 2022–2023; and an additional R31 million in 2023–2024.
A Sassa representative denied that corruption was a contributing factor in the irregular payments, citing burdensome administrative concerns at the Department of Home Affairs related to recipients’ death verifications as the real cause of the payments.
The organization also mentioned why the payments were made; A death that may have occurred after Sassa’s payment to the bank account but was reported to the Department of Home Affairs days after the actual date of death; alternatively days after payment was collected, family members reported a death to Sassa after it was too late.
Speaking about the matter with Newzroom Afrika, Sassa spokesman Paseka Letsatsi explained that the funds were typically deposited into the recipients’ accounts and then taken out by family members, so they are not totally squandered.
He clarified that once funds have been mistakenly disbursed to a deceased beneficiary, Sassa is unable to ask for their return. Once Home Affairs confirms the death, its only option is to cease the payments.
The department stated, “Unfortunately, Sassa and the Department of Home Affairs have no control over this element of late reporting of death.”
To enhance the system, Sassa is collaborating closely with Home Affairs. In order to confirm that the beneficiary’s circumstances have not changed, Sassa periodically examines the beneficiary’s personal information.
Presently, rather than being done electronically, the review procedure is carried out by a face-to-face, in-person interaction between Sassa employees and the beneficiaries who are impacted. A customer will not be permitted to appear for a review procedure if they are deceased.
In spite of this problem, Sassa claimed that recent efforts in collaboration with Home Affairs have enhanced the system. The number of deceased beneficiaries receiving payments has decreased, indicating this improvement.
For instance, Sassa compensated 15,204 deceased beneficiaries in the 2023–2024 fiscal year as opposed to 32,920 in the 2022–2023 fiscal year.
Sassa stated that in order to guarantee that the systems are connected, it will keep collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs.