- With more recent financial misconduct cases, SASSA has made improvements in managing them, for example, in 2020/21, 99% (66 of 67) of the financial misconduct cases were finalised within 120 days.
The historical cases are a bit more challenging. These include the following:
- The number of backlog cases for are 1,228, of which 434 cases were finalised.
- The lockdown has limited movement of investigating officers and this resulted in delays in the finalisation of cases.
- There has been a number of changes in the accounting authority of SASSA and each new accounting authority required sufficient time to understand the transgressions and implement due corrective disciplinary processes.
- Some of the employees to be interviewed or assist with the information and circumstances affecting certain transactions are no longer in the employ of the Agency. There are challenges with tracing them and/or obtaining their cooperation. Thus, SASSA is only able to pursue a legal course of action, which is a lengthy process.
- The cases that are before the courts will have a direct bearing on the internal disciplinary processes and thus these are delayed due to the legal processes that are currently underway.
- Time taken to engage National Treasury to provide clarity on the basis of classification of certain transactions as irregular expenditure
- The following steps are being taken to improve performance in this area:
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- The information on progress is made public through the APP with a target of of 95% of backlog cases to be finalised by 31 March 2022. This enables Parliament and other concerned bodies to monitor SASSA’s progress.
- Internally, a project plans has been developed and progress is monitored monthly at the EXCO level.
- Major cases (6) totalling R821 million are being managed by the Accounting Authority directly with the assistance of National Treasury.
- Disciplinary corrective measures have been concluded for 210 cases amounting to R143 896 178.83. SASSA has submitted these cases to NT for condonation in the period 2019/20 and 2020/21.
- In the 2021/22 financial year the agency has already submitted 8 cases amounting to R4 668 651.64 for Treasury’s consideration.
- 18 cases amounting to R9 314 998.15 will be submitted to Treasury before end of December 2021.