Date: 31/03/2005
Source: Department of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Verification of beneficiaries of social grants
Media statement by the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, verification of all beneficiaries of social grants and indemnity for those who come out
The purpose of this statement is primarily to provide clarity on the Department's intension to verify the eligibility of all beneficiaries of social grants as from April 2005.
On the 24th of March 2005 I issued a media statement indicating that I want to ensure the verification of all beneficiaries to begin as from the 1st of April 2005. The main objective of the verification exercise will be to validate whether the Department is paying the right amount to the right beneficiary, there was rampant fraud and corruption including scores of "ghost beneficiaries" who were in receipt of social grants including people who were deceased a long time ago. Even more worrying was this that this taking place even through the banking payment systems, resulting in the loss of millions of Rands by the state. This of course is a matter of grave concern as this money meant to assist the most vulnerable sectors of society, especially needy children.
It has subsequently transpired that, unfortunately, some interpreted the statement to mean that on the 1st of April 2005, all beneficiaries must appear with documentation to have themselves verified at pay points. The perception also prevailed that beneficiaries would not be paid if verification does not take place. Arguments were also made that this is a resurfacing of the disaster of 1999 when beneficiaries had to reregister and that the infirm and sick would be expected to appear at pay points. The image that was then conjured up was one of masses of people standing at pay points for verification. This painted a picture of an uncaring government and a heartless Department when it comes to the poor and vulnerable. We are very cognizant that, obviously, with all the good intentions, a mass verification of this nature would have been a logistical impossibility.
I would therefore, like to put the following into clear perspective:
1. With a view to improving the integrity of the social security or pensions system, the Department will, as indicated on 24 March 2005, will initiate the verification of all social grants recipients in a phased, systematic and caring manner in line with the requirements of administrative justice, which affords the other side to present its case. As such, no beneficiaries will be expected to appear at pay points for verification on the 1st of April 2005, but rather, people will be notified when to present themselves, and they will be given time to do so.
2. As the Social Security Agency becomes operational in April 2005, we will move with speed towards the next phase, that of improving the integrity of the grant administration system. The Department will as from April 2005, systematically further clean up the grant administration system by undertaking the following important service delivery projects:
* compare data in the different government information systems
* validate whether people are alive in the cases where procurators (a representative) collect the pension,
* interrogate the data relating to people in receipt of a government grant as well as a pension from other institutions
* verify whether a beneficiary's income and assets have increased but remains undeclared;
* approach the banking institutions to check on the eligibility of the person,
* conduct home visits for the disabled and infirm.
I want to emphasise that no beneficiary should be prejudiced, adversely affected and his or her dignity trampled upon in the process of verification. The implementation of the verification process will be done in a manner that is consistent with our role in protecting the human rights of people that we jealously uphold.
Beneficiaries will therefore not be asked to appear for verification on the 1st of April 2005 as such, but can expect that the process will begin from April 2005, where the Department will call upon them to assist us in confirming their eligibility to a social grant. To this extent, we call upon our partners in civil society: faith- based institutions, NGOs, the media, and all South Africans of goodwill to do as you have done in the past and assist us to improve the quality of service delivery in social grants. Let us all work together to build a South Africa that belongs and cares for all its elderly, people with disability and most importantly children.
Let us Stop Fraud, Corruption and Maladministration now!!
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 904 3395
Call the Toll free no: 0800 60 10 11
Issued by: Ministry for Social Development
31 March 2005
Source: Department of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Verification of beneficiaries of social grants
Media statement by the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, verification of all beneficiaries of social grants and indemnity for those who come out
The purpose of this statement is primarily to provide clarity on the Department's intension to verify the eligibility of all beneficiaries of social grants as from April 2005.
On the 24th of March 2005 I issued a media statement indicating that I want to ensure the verification of all beneficiaries to begin as from the 1st of April 2005. The main objective of the verification exercise will be to validate whether the Department is paying the right amount to the right beneficiary, there was rampant fraud and corruption including scores of "ghost beneficiaries" who were in receipt of social grants including people who were deceased a long time ago. Even more worrying was this that this taking place even through the banking payment systems, resulting in the loss of millions of Rands by the state. This of course is a matter of grave concern as this money meant to assist the most vulnerable sectors of society, especially needy children.
It has subsequently transpired that, unfortunately, some interpreted the statement to mean that on the 1st of April 2005, all beneficiaries must appear with documentation to have themselves verified at pay points. The perception also prevailed that beneficiaries would not be paid if verification does not take place. Arguments were also made that this is a resurfacing of the disaster of 1999 when beneficiaries had to reregister and that the infirm and sick would be expected to appear at pay points. The image that was then conjured up was one of masses of people standing at pay points for verification. This painted a picture of an uncaring government and a heartless Department when it comes to the poor and vulnerable. We are very cognizant that, obviously, with all the good intentions, a mass verification of this nature would have been a logistical impossibility.
I would therefore, like to put the following into clear perspective:
1. With a view to improving the integrity of the social security or pensions system, the Department will, as indicated on 24 March 2005, will initiate the verification of all social grants recipients in a phased, systematic and caring manner in line with the requirements of administrative justice, which affords the other side to present its case. As such, no beneficiaries will be expected to appear at pay points for verification on the 1st of April 2005, but rather, people will be notified when to present themselves, and they will be given time to do so.
2. As the Social Security Agency becomes operational in April 2005, we will move with speed towards the next phase, that of improving the integrity of the grant administration system. The Department will as from April 2005, systematically further clean up the grant administration system by undertaking the following important service delivery projects:
* compare data in the different government information systems
* validate whether people are alive in the cases where procurators (a representative) collect the pension,
* interrogate the data relating to people in receipt of a government grant as well as a pension from other institutions
* verify whether a beneficiary's income and assets have increased but remains undeclared;
* approach the banking institutions to check on the eligibility of the person,
* conduct home visits for the disabled and infirm.
I want to emphasise that no beneficiary should be prejudiced, adversely affected and his or her dignity trampled upon in the process of verification. The implementation of the verification process will be done in a manner that is consistent with our role in protecting the human rights of people that we jealously uphold.
Beneficiaries will therefore not be asked to appear for verification on the 1st of April 2005 as such, but can expect that the process will begin from April 2005, where the Department will call upon them to assist us in confirming their eligibility to a social grant. To this extent, we call upon our partners in civil society: faith- based institutions, NGOs, the media, and all South Africans of goodwill to do as you have done in the past and assist us to improve the quality of service delivery in social grants. Let us all work together to build a South Africa that belongs and cares for all its elderly, people with disability and most importantly children.
Let us Stop Fraud, Corruption and Maladministration now!!
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 904 3395
Call the Toll free no: 0800 60 10 11
Issued by: Ministry for Social Development
31 March 2005
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