More damning revelations about SASSA cadre deployment

Members of parliament have sounded the alarm over SASSA cadre deployment.

Published on the Democratic Alliance’s website, MP Bridget Masango aired the following revelations over SASSA cadre deployment.

SASSA CADRE DEPLOYMENT IS RIFE

She and the DA start off by questioning why Chief Executive of the South African Social Security Agency, Busisiwe Memela-Khambule – who earns earns a R3 million salary – has had her term extended.

Memela-Khambule was implicated in a damning Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report in 2021, involving corruption in a R45 million tender for distribution of 33 000 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) food parcels.

She is accused of procuring overpriced and unqualified service providers to the detriment of SASSA’s neediest beneficiaries.

SASSA HAD NO APPROVAL

Furthermore, the SIU found that SASSA had no approval to administer food parcels and needed to use lists submitted by ward councillors anyway.

This saw non-qualifying beneficiaries receive parcels, while others received theirs’ late, in sub-standard condition, or not at all.

Nevertheless, President Cyril Ramaphosa has renewed Busisiwe Memela-Khambule’s contract regardless.

That is why the DA is accusing the ANC of SASSA cadre deployment, as reinforced in the recent exposé by the Zondo Commission that cadre deployment is a key ingredient to corruption.

MILLIONS LOST IN FRAUD

Masango outlines the following instances of SASSA cadre deployment:

• The loss of more than R50 million to fraud and corruption in 700 cases over the past two and a half years.
• Let’s not forget the SASSA ‘system glitch’ in September 2023 left more than 600 000 beneficiaries with zero money.
• Furthermore, in January 2024, 150 000 beneficiaries did not receive SASSA payments due to a ‘glitch’ that meant banking details were ‘unverified’.
• R141 million has been paid to 75 000 deceased recipients in the past three years.
• 33 883 social grants and 5 812 SRD grants and were paid to fraudulent civil servants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To counteract SASSA cadre deployment, the DA says it has a plan to protect and enhance social grants.

THE DA’S PLAN FOR SOCIAL WELFARE

Masango says the DA’s ‘pro-poor policies’ contained in the recently launched 2024 DA manifesto are as follows:

• Audit social grant beneficiary databases to ensure all beneficiaries are qualified.
• Increase the child support grant to the food poverty line – from R510 currently to R760 each month.
• Extend the child grant to expectant mothers to ensure nutrition of unborn babies.

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• Extend the child support grant to beneficiaries until they obtain a National Senior Certificate.
• Simplify and streamline social grant applications for the disabled.
• Expand the zero-rated basket of food items to reduce food insecurity and poverty.