SASSA intensifies crackdown: Thousands of ineligible grants suspended

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is tightening the screws on its payment system.
 
SASSA plans to conduct 420 000 beneficiary reviews in the current financial year, as part of efforts to clamp down on ineligible grant payments.
 
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou briefed the media earlier on Thursday on initiatives the agency has taken to improve social grants systems.
 
He says 400 000 social grant beneficiaries have already been notified to come forward and verify their beneficiary status.
   
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou says the review exercise has already revealed major irregularities.
 
Matlou says out of the 400 000 beneficiaries flagged for review, nearly 200 000 have been found not eligible to receive social grants.
 
He adds that so far, around 240 000 grants have been reviewed, and about 70 000 have been suspended for failing to comply with the review process.
  
 "The data that we found is that the beneficiary, as they come to apply, they will give you a certain information, but when you get the data from credit bureau the information that was supplied to SASSA is not actually the same."
 
The agency has reiterated that the process is aimed at protecting public funds and ensuring grants reach those who truly qualify.