MPs want urgent probe into fraud claims related to R350 SRD grant
The social development committee on Wednesday received a briefing from two first-year IT students who uncovered how people’s ID numbers were being used to fraudulently apply for the special grant.
IT students Veer Gosai (left) and Joel Cedras brief the Social Development committee about how they uncovered fraud in the SRD grant application system. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of RSA
CAPE TOWN - Members of Parliament want an urgent investigation into fraud allegations in the R350 SRD grant.
The social development committee on Wednesday received a briefing from two first-year IT students who uncovered how people’s ID numbers were being used to fraudulently apply for the special grant.
They’ve also recommended that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) restart its grant system to verify people again.
The two first-year students briefed the social development committee on their findings, which showed a disturbing trend on how the SRD grant system was being defrauded through the fraudulent use of ids.
Committee member Tshilidzi Munyai said a briefing by SASSA would be pointless before an investigation into the allegations.
"As a matter of urgency, we need an investigation. Without an investigation there’s no reason for SASSA to share anything with us."
Minister Nokuzola Tolashe said SASSA needed more information to complete its probe.
"However, in the absence of reliable information from the source of the allegations, SASSA has not been able to complete its investigation."
The committee expects a follow-up meeting with SASSA in a month's time.