The Democratic Alliance (DA) will today write to the Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Bridget Masango MP, requesting her to summon SASSA to the Committee meeting next week Wednesday to account for the shocking allegations of large-scale fraud within the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant system.

This follows the recent revelations by two Stellenbosch University computer science students who uncovered serious vulnerabilities in SASSA’s systems, which have been exploited to defraud some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

It is deeply concerning that a system meant to provide critical relief has been so badly compromised. The DA will demand that SASSA explain how this was allowed to happen, who is responsible, and what immediate steps will be taken to prevent further abuse. Simply admitting to ‘incidents of fraud’ is not enough – this appears to be a coordinated effort, and SASSA must be held to account.

The DA will also welcome it if the students could present their
findings to Parliament, as their discovery sheds light on the extent of the weaknesses in the SRD system. It is crucial that the Committee hears directly from those who uncovered the fraud to ensure that all relevant information is on record.

SASSA must disclose the full scale of the problem, explain how they plan to fix these issues, and ensure that eligible recipients are not unfairly denied their grants. The DA believes a full-scale inquiry is necessary to uncover the full extent of the fraud and ensure that the integrity of the SRD grant system is restored.

It is unacceptable that fraudsters have benefited while the most vulnerable continue to suffer due to apparent government incompetence. Urgent and transparent action is required to protect those who rely on this vital lifeline.

Source: Democratic Alliance