Question NW1278 to the Minister of Social Development
26 April 2022 - NW1278
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to the 177 108 public servants who were found to have received social grants, excluding the Social Relief of Distress Grant, (a) on what date did her department suspend the payment of the grants to the specified public servants, (b) in which (i) national and (ii) provincial government departments are the implicated public servants employed and (c) other than the suspension of the grants, what other measures has her department taken in order to address the issue?
Reply:
a) Payment of the identified grants was suspended on 10 September 2021. However, all were reinstated, after having discovered that many of the suspended grants were being received by interns and contract workers, who may qualify to continue receiving these grants. The reinstatement was done in order to afford the review process to be done according to the prescripts of the Regulations to the Social Assistance Act, 2004.
b) (i) The public servants identified were found in the following national departments
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS |
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CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE |
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DEEDS REGISTRATION TRADING ACCOUNT |
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DEPART AGRICULTURE LAND REFORM RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
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DEPART COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES |
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DEPART OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR |
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DEPART OF ENVIRONMENT FORESTRY AND FISHERIES |
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DEPART OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY |
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DEPART OF WOMEN YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES |
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DEPART SPORTS ARTS AND CULTURE |
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DEPART TRADE INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION
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DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION |
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DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING |
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DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANS |
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES |
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DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION TRADING ACCOUNT |
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DEPT GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND INFO SYSTEMS |
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GOVERNMENT PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION AGENCY |
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GOVERNMENT PRINTING |
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INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE |
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION |
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MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AGENT |
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NAT DEPT COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AF |
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NAT DEPT JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION |
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NATIONAL DEPARTMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
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NATIONAL DEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION |
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NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY |
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NATIONAL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT |
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NATIONAL TREASURY |
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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE |
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OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION |
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PLANNING MONITORING AND EVALUATION |
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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TRADING ENTITY |
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SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE |
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STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA |
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THE PRESIDENCY |
(ii) The following provincial departments also had staff members receiving the social grants.
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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE |
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EAST CAPE COOPERATIVE GOVER AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIR |
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EAST CAPE ECONOMIC DEV ENVIRONM AFFAIRS TOURISM |
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EAST CAPE EDUCATION |
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EAST CAPE HEALTH |
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EAST CAPE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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EAST CAPE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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EAST CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE |
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EAST CAPE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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EAST CAPE PUBLIC WORKS |
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EAST CAPE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND AGRARIAN REFORM |
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EAST CAPE SAFETY AND LIAISON |
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EAST CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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EAST CAPE SPORT AND RECREATION ARTS AND CULTURE |
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EAST CAPE TRANSPORT |
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FREE STATE PROVINCE |
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FREE STATE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
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FREE STATE COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRAD AFFAIRS |
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FREE STATE ECONOMIC SMALL BUS TOURISM AND ENV AFF |
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FREE STATE EDUCATION |
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FREE STATE GOVERNMENT MOTOR TRANSPORT TRADING ACC |
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FREE STATE HEALTH |
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FREE STATE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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FREE STATE MEDPAS TRADING ACCOUNT |
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FREE STATE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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FREE STATE POLICE ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
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FREE STATE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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FREE STATE PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE |
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FREE STATE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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FREE STATE SPORT ARTS CULTURE AND RECREATION |
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GAUTENG PROVINCE |
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GAUTENG AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
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GAUTENG COMMUNITY SAFETY |
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GAUTENG COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFF |
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GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF E-GOVERNMENT |
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GAUTENG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
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GAUTENG EDUCATION |
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GAUTENG HEALTH |
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GAUTENG HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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GAUTENG INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT |
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GAUTENG INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING AGENCY |
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GAUTENG OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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GAUTENG ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
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GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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GAUTENG SPORTS ARTS CULTURE AND RECREATION |
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GAUTENG TREASURY |
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GG TRANSPORT TRADING ACCOUNT |
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MEDSAS TRADING ACCOUNT |
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KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE |
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KZN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
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KZN ARTS AND CULTURE |
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KZN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIAISON |
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KZN COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRAD AFFAIRS |
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KZN ECONOMIC DEV TOURISM AND ENVIRO AFFAIRS |
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KZN EDUCATION |
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KZN HEALTH |
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KZN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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KZN OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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KZN PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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KZN PUBLIC WORKS |
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KZN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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KZN SPORT AND RECREATION |
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KZN TRANSPORT |
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LIMPOPO PROVINCE |
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LIMPOPO AGRICULTURE |
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LIMPOPO COOPER GOV HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TRAD AFFAIRS |
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LIMPOPO ECONOMIC DEVELOP ENVIRONMENT TOURISM |
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LIMPOPO EDUCATION |
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LIMPOPO HEALTH |
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LIMPOPO OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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LIMPOPO PUBLIC WORKS ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE |
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LIMPOPO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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LIMPOPO SPORT ARTS AND CULTURE |
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LIMPOPO TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY |
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MPUMALANGA PROVINCE |
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MPUMALANGA AGRICULTURE RURAL DEV LAND AND ENV AFF |
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MPUMALANGA COMMUNITY SAFETY SECURITY AND LIAISON |
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MPUMALANGA COOPERATIVE GOV AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS |
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MPUMALANGA CULTURE SPORT AND RECREATION |
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MPUMALANGA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
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MPUMALANGA EDUCATION |
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MPUMALANGA HEALTH |
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MPUMALANGA HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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MPUMALANGA OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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MPUMALANGA PUBLIC WORKS ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
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MPUMALANGA SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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NORTHERN CAPE PROCINCE |
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NORTH CAPE AGRIC ENVIRON AFF RURAL DEV LAND REFORM |
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NORTH CAPE COOP GOVERNM HUMAN SETTLEM TRAD AFFAIRS |
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NORTH CAPE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
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NORTH CAPE EDUCATION |
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NORTH CAPE HEALTH |
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NORTH CAPE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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NORTH CAPE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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NORTH CAPE ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS |
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NORTH CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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NORTH CAPE SPORT ARTS AND CULTURE |
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NORTH CAPE TRANSPORT SAFETY AND LIAISON |
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NORTH WEST PROVINCE |
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NORTH WEST AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
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NORTH WEST ARTS CULTURE SPORTS AND RECREATION |
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NORTH WEST COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRANSPORT MANAGEME |
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NORTH WEST COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS |
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NORTH WEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIR CONS TOURISM |
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NORTH WEST EDUCATION |
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NORTH WEST HEALTH |
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NORTH WEST HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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NORTH WEST OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
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NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
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NORTH WEST PUBLIC WORKS AND ROADS |
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NORTH WEST SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE |
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WESTERN CAPE AGRICULTURE |
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WESTERN CAPE COMMUNITY SAFETY |
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WESTERN CAPE CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPORT |
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WESTERN CAPE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
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WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION |
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WESTERN CAPE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENT PLA |
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WESTERN CAPE HEALTH |
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WESTERN CAPE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
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WESTERN CAPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
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WESTERN CAPE PREMIER |
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WESTERN CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
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WESTERN CAPE TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC WORKS |
c) The grants were reinstated and all affected employees were sent notices that a review of their social grant was being conducted. The review process will enable SASSA to correctly apply the means test and update personal details. If any public servant is found to have received a grant that he/she is not entitled to, following the review process, further action will be implemented, which will include recovery of the amounts overpaid, as well as an official report to the department that employs them for disciplinary action to be taken by the respective department.
In addition to the above review project which is underway, SASSA is currently implementing the following measures to prevent persons who are not eligible for a social grant being able to receive these:
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- Engaging the Department of Public Works to establish a data sharing mechanism that will assist in identifying citizens who are part of the EPWP programme, though their wages may qualify them to receive the normal grants it is still necessary their applicants are taken through a means test.
- SASSA, together with the Department of Public Service Administration (DPSA) and administrators of Persal (the government employees salary system) are currently engaging to look at future mitigations. The team is refining the criteria and specifications for data extraction and data sharing.
- Engaging DPSA to consider mechanisms which will assist the state to take consistent actions against public servants who access social grants unlawfully.