Fight against social grant fraud

By Mishkah Anthony
9 September 2008

Social Development Minister, Dr Zola Skweyiya says the department has made Progress in the Fight against Fraud and Corruption in the Social Grant System.

The department held a joint media briefing today to update the media on the progress made on the campaign against fraud and corruption on the social grant system.

The Minister says the department made substantial progress since the start of the campaign three years ago, when the Special Investigating Unit was first appointed to investigate and put right any impropriety found on the Social Pensions system.

“Already the successes of this partnership has exceeded the cost of our investment and prompted us to continue with the arrangement. This should send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated, be it opportunistic or systematic, says the Minister”

To date the department has removed 333 233 grants from the system with an annual value of over R1 billion. “We have ensured that 21 189 irregular private beneficiaries and public servants repay the illegally obtained grants worth R114 374 million”, Skweyiya reported.

“We are pleased that we have been able to achieve future savings of R8, 4 billion, generated through the investigation.”

The Department together with the SIU have also started to identify trends and patterns in the type of people abusing the system, especially new applications, existing grants and administration.

This has assisted in highlighting the methods used by individuals and syndicates that are targeting the system. It has come to light that the grants most affected by these syndicates are Disability and Child Support Grants.


The syndicates are believed to be selling falsified medical certificates for a fee of between R300 to R1000 and false clinic cards to members of the public, who use the cards to apply for child support grants for non-existent children.


The department is intensifying its campaign against fraud and corruption and will take stern action against anyone who is illegally benefiting from funds meant to support the poor.