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The DA in the Western Cape notes with concern the continuing incidents of unlawful and fraudulent deductions from South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) beneficiary accounts. 

In my capacity as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social development in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, I will write to the Minister of Social Development in the Western Cape, Albert Fritz, to determine whether the Department is aware of cases of unlawful deductions from SASSA grants, and if so, what measures the Department are taking to assist SASSA beneficiaries who are not receiving their full grants.

I will also conduct visits to various SASSA pay out points in the Western Cape, with an intention to monitor the situation and speak to beneficiaries to gather the extent of the challenges they face and make the necessary suggestion and recommendations to rectify the situation.

There is an indication that beneficiaries have had their SASSA accounts fraudulently debited on several occasions and many have been tricked into taking out loans from parties operating within close proximity to SASSA payout points. It has also come to the fore that some beneficiaries have opened up bank accounts with Easy Pay and funds from their SASSA accounts are transferred automatically to these accounts.

The main purpose of social assistance is to combat poverty, especially amongst the most vulnerable in our society. It is concerning when the very same people SASSA aims to assist are driven into debt and further into poverty by these individuals.

I urge all beneficiaries to be vigilant about their account details and not take out loans that will lead to deductions on their SASSA accounts. We also call on SASSA official to ensure that payout points are free of loan sharks and other individuals who prey on unsuspecting beneficiaries.

The DA is committed to tackling social ills facing our communities through providing opportunities for jobs, education, growth and development.

Issued by DA Western Cape