Investigation confirms claims of weaknesses in SRD grant application process
First-year students Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai uncovered major flaws in the R370 social relief of distress grant system run by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
- Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Department of Social Development (DSD)
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 - An investigation has confirmed allegations made by two first-year IT students on the weaknesses in the social relief of distress (SRD) grant application process.
First-year students Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai uncovered major flaws in the R370 social relief of distress grant system run by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
The two students presented their findings to the social development portfolio committee before the department undertook to investigate and report back in 30 days.
The report has now recommended an overhaul of the system to make it safer.
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe returned to the committee on Wednesday to present the findings of an independent investigation into the fraudulent applications.
The investigation looked into allegations that people's IDs were being used fraudulently to apply for the grant.
Tolashe said its findings all but confirmed the information presented by the students.
"What they've been going through is in fact, is a fact, wherein sometimes you apply and your ID has been used elsewhere, where sometimes your apply and your cell number has been used elsewhere. So, regardless of that short time that we’ve realised, we are bringing to you that kind of a report."
The independent report made a number of recommendations to prevent the fraud, from implementing stronger password protection, limit multiple applicants per cell phone number and introducing a biometric system.