CAPE TOWN - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it's working hard to protect itself and its beneficiaries from fraud.
Around 400,000 beneficiaries have been notified for review.
And more than 70,000 profiles have already been suspended for failing review.
Sassa has had enough of chancers.
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A cryptographic breach in 2021 compromised the security keys used by Postbank to issue Sassa gold cards.
In 2024, the agency acknowledged widespread ID theft and fraud within the Social Relief of Distress grant system.
Eight of Sassa's own employees were among 12 people arrested last year for R260-million fraud.
Now the agency is coming for all those who have been stealing grants meant for rightful beneficiaries.
Sassa will review 420,000 beneficiaries this financial year.
More than 291,000 beneficiaries were found to be government employees in various departments; 25,000 were flagged by NSFAS as having other sources of income and 495 beneficiaries were flagged by SARS.
Sassa CEO Themba Matlou says the biometric enrollment system rolled out last year has been a success.
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It verifies applicant and beneficiary IDs using fingerprint scanning and facial recognition to combat fraud.
He also says Postbank will soon provide a progress update on the roll-out of new, secure black cards, which replace gold cards.
- eNCA's Nobesuthu Hejana reports.