Well-to-do pensioners brag about their Sassa grant

GEORGE NEWS - A senior resident of George recently aired his concern over well-to-do pensioners, who are known to him, bragging about receiving the old person grant from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).

"They reckon they are entitled to it because they paid tax their whole life. These are people who go on expensive holidays and do not have any lack. They boast that the Sassa grant is their booze money. It is fraud. They are stealing taxpayers' money," said the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The question arises whether Sassa's checking systems are up to par. It is obvious that the fraudsters must have more than one bank account and would obviously not submit statements of an account that reveal their true financial status.

Western Cape Director of Communications Shivani Wahab said every application is subjected to strict criteria and a means test. The latter determines if a person qualifies to receive a grant and the information that clients provide is verified.

The Sassa grant application system is interfaced with the Department of Home Affairs and clients must divulge their financial status, ie, all income and assets, as well as three months' statements for all bank accounts, their marital and employment status and more.

"In terms of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004, it is a serious offence if applicants withhold critical information from Sassa which could have an impact on the outcome of their application," Wahab said.

When cases of alleged fraud are reported, Sassa uses other means to verify financial information, like the Department of Labour, the banking sector, asset confirmations and employer information.

In the current financial year (2024/25), the Sassa Western Cape fraud unit has been investigating 25 cases of beneficiaries submitting fraudulent or incorrect information or who have withheld critical information from the agency. "These cases are in various forms of finalisation, of which one has been reported to the SAPS for criminal investigation," said Wahab. Asked if any of these cases are in George, she said Sassa cannot provide any detail of matters still under investigation.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies, no such cases have recently been reported at any police station in George.