Date: 22/02/05
Source: Department of Social Development, North West Provincial Government
Title: Rasmeni: Imbizo on campaign against fraud and corruption within social securit ...
Address by the MEC for Social Development, Ms Nomonde Rasmeni, during the Imbizo on the campaign against fraud and corruption within the social security system, Robega Primary
22 February 2005
The Programme Director, The Executive Mayor of Bojanala District, Cllr Tema
The Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Municipality, Cllr Mabe
All Councillors, All reps from the Business fraternity, Pension Committee members, Public Servants, Bagolo botlhe ba ba fano le basha,
I am indeed pleased to be addressing this fourth Imbizo since we embarked on an anti fraud and corruption campaign within the grant administration system in the province. This takes cue from the call made by our National Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya that we engage and encourage members of the public to come forward and request amnesty for wrongdoing.
It has constantly been highlighted in the media that various research findings indicate that corruption is in the increase in our country. Even though this can be debated, one is sometimes tempted to agree with this view. Given the recent findings by the department that there is a substantial number of people who fraudulently receive grants, we have deemed it necessary to embark on a campaign and talk to our people.
Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya launched this campaign in December 2004 with the aim to encourage members of the public who have been defrauding the system to come forward and apply for amnesty before 31 March 2005. The amnesty is extended to members of the public, excluding public servants and syndicates.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the social security programme is one of the biggest programmes introduced by government to fight poverty. It is therefore discouraging to realise that there are undeserving people who supply the department with wrong information to access these grants.
The government has a constitutional obligation to provide social security for the needy and vulnerable members of the community. Different social grants such as Old Age, Child Support, Disability, Care Dependency etc, are given as monthly income to eligible people such as older persons, people with disabilities as well as vulnerable children.
We are determined that all those who qualify for these grants and are eligible should indeed receive them and remain in the system, but we are equally determined that those who do not qualify for these grants should be removed from the system.
We currently, as the provincial government spend R3,8 billion on the disbursement of social grants to about 750 000 needy people per annum.
The department has made a shocking discovery that an estimated R26 million may have been spent on fraudulent social grants that were paid out to civil servants. Since the SocPen and persal systems were interfaced on 1st April 2004, it has been discovered that about 3 500 public servants may be receiving grants fraudulently. There are also a lot of beneficiaries who are not civil servants who continue to defraud the system.
This practice, programme director is a course for concern as it may ultimately exhaust the coffers of government and therefore unable us to assist the poorest of the poor. This will obviously mean that we are failing to meet our obligations as government elected by the masses of this country.
We do not condone corruption as government, however we have decided to give the public amnesty, if they come forward and report wrongdoing before the 31st of March 2005. It should be noted that those who do not come forward will at a later stage face the full might of the law.
We have dedicated these two months February and March to talking to our people in all the districts of the province through imbizos, print and electronic media to ensure that the message is put across. You must therefore use this opportunity by calling the toll free line 0800 60 10 11 or approach our offices near you. We are also appealing to you to report anyone who is wrongfully receiving these grants as your identity will remain a secret.
Let me reassure you that if you report before the end of March you will be pardoned, therefore dial 0800 60 10 11 to ensure that you do not get in trouble with the law. We would also like to thank you for coming in numbers and hope you will take the message to others back home.
To the councillors, we really appreciate your usual co-operation of mobilising people to attend these meetings.
I would like to thank officials of the department for complying with the minister’s call of embarking on this campaign, work well done.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Development,
North West Provincial Government
22 February 2005
Source: Department of Social Development, North West Provincial Government
Title: Rasmeni: Imbizo on campaign against fraud and corruption within social securit ...
Address by the MEC for Social Development, Ms Nomonde Rasmeni, during the Imbizo on the campaign against fraud and corruption within the social security system, Robega Primary
22 February 2005
The Programme Director, The Executive Mayor of Bojanala District, Cllr Tema
The Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Municipality, Cllr Mabe
All Councillors, All reps from the Business fraternity, Pension Committee members, Public Servants, Bagolo botlhe ba ba fano le basha,
I am indeed pleased to be addressing this fourth Imbizo since we embarked on an anti fraud and corruption campaign within the grant administration system in the province. This takes cue from the call made by our National Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya that we engage and encourage members of the public to come forward and request amnesty for wrongdoing.
It has constantly been highlighted in the media that various research findings indicate that corruption is in the increase in our country. Even though this can be debated, one is sometimes tempted to agree with this view. Given the recent findings by the department that there is a substantial number of people who fraudulently receive grants, we have deemed it necessary to embark on a campaign and talk to our people.
Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya launched this campaign in December 2004 with the aim to encourage members of the public who have been defrauding the system to come forward and apply for amnesty before 31 March 2005. The amnesty is extended to members of the public, excluding public servants and syndicates.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the social security programme is one of the biggest programmes introduced by government to fight poverty. It is therefore discouraging to realise that there are undeserving people who supply the department with wrong information to access these grants.
The government has a constitutional obligation to provide social security for the needy and vulnerable members of the community. Different social grants such as Old Age, Child Support, Disability, Care Dependency etc, are given as monthly income to eligible people such as older persons, people with disabilities as well as vulnerable children.
We are determined that all those who qualify for these grants and are eligible should indeed receive them and remain in the system, but we are equally determined that those who do not qualify for these grants should be removed from the system.
We currently, as the provincial government spend R3,8 billion on the disbursement of social grants to about 750 000 needy people per annum.
The department has made a shocking discovery that an estimated R26 million may have been spent on fraudulent social grants that were paid out to civil servants. Since the SocPen and persal systems were interfaced on 1st April 2004, it has been discovered that about 3 500 public servants may be receiving grants fraudulently. There are also a lot of beneficiaries who are not civil servants who continue to defraud the system.
This practice, programme director is a course for concern as it may ultimately exhaust the coffers of government and therefore unable us to assist the poorest of the poor. This will obviously mean that we are failing to meet our obligations as government elected by the masses of this country.
We do not condone corruption as government, however we have decided to give the public amnesty, if they come forward and report wrongdoing before the 31st of March 2005. It should be noted that those who do not come forward will at a later stage face the full might of the law.
We have dedicated these two months February and March to talking to our people in all the districts of the province through imbizos, print and electronic media to ensure that the message is put across. You must therefore use this opportunity by calling the toll free line 0800 60 10 11 or approach our offices near you. We are also appealing to you to report anyone who is wrongfully receiving these grants as your identity will remain a secret.
Let me reassure you that if you report before the end of March you will be pardoned, therefore dial 0800 60 10 11 to ensure that you do not get in trouble with the law. We would also like to thank you for coming in numbers and hope you will take the message to others back home.
To the councillors, we really appreciate your usual co-operation of mobilising people to attend these meetings.
I would like to thank officials of the department for complying with the minister’s call of embarking on this campaign, work well done.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Development,
North West Provincial Government
22 February 2005
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