Official reply:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1363/2013
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 31 May 2013
Internal question paper no: 19
1363. Mr R B Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) With reference to the recent televised footage regarding fraudulent
activities of officials at the Gugulethu SA Social Security Agency
(SASSA), what measures has she put in place to deal with this;
(2) whether any of the charges against the officials were brought in
terms of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999;
(3) how will the beneficiaries who had been prejudiced and lost their
money be assisted?
NW1694E
Reply:
1) An extensive investigation into fraudulent social grant activities
comprising SASSA (Fraud Management and Compliance Unit) and SAPS
Detectives is currently underway at the Gugulethu Local Office. The
investigation involves one hundred and three (103) social grants and
implicating twenty three (23) employees at this stage.
Two (2) employees are currently on suspension and seventy three (73)
employees have been put on special leave until the investigation is
finalized.
An Intervention Team comprising of Grant Administration Staff,
including Disability Management Unit employees, from other Local
Offices and the Regional Office, has been redeployed to the Gugulethu
Local Office to ensure effective service delivery continuity.
2) The officials who were arrested were released on bail and will appear
on 18 July 2013 at the Athlone Court where they will be formally
charged with fraud and corruption.
3) There are no beneficiaries who lost monies or were prejudiced by the
fraudulent grants activities in question because the transactions
involved were manipulated and registered through the SOCPEN system.