Parliament, Wednesday, 1 September 2021 – The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) told the Select Committee on Health and Social Services that one of the challenges that government has, is its lack of the integrated systems that allow databases to have the same view of all citizens.
The committee received a briefing from Sassa on the Auditor General’s (AG’s) findings on the outcome of the Covid-19 stimuli’s relief fund package.
Briefing the committee, Sassa’s executive manager, Ms Dianne Dunkerley, informed the committee that the AG’s findings on the R350 special relief grant indicated the lack of data integration across government, a potential of the grant being paid to individuals who are not distressed, and 67 770 grants paid to individuals who did not qualify.
The committee wanted to know actions that have been taken by Sassa to address AG’s findings. The committee told Sassa that it observed from the presentation that, to address the findings of the AG, Sassa has referred cases to fraud and compliance for investigation.
On repayments of the stolen R350 grants money, Sassa told the committee that about 241 criminal cases have been opened against government employees, and 657 against company directors. Sassa also informed the committee that there is a collaboration between the Department of Public Service and Administration for coordination and monitoring of the disciplinary actions. The committee heard that the recovery of the stolen money would be done according to Section 100 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, MS MAURENCIA GILLION.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Yoliswa Landu
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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