Question NW1168 to the Minister of Social Development
20 May 2016 - NW1168
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to her reply to question 544 on 4 November 2015, how many (a) SA Social Security Agency senior officials, (b) Net1 Cash Paymaster Services’ officials and (c) other officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged and (iv) convicted in each province for being implicated in illegal deductions on social grants in the (aa) 2011-12, (bb) 2012-13, (cc) 2013-14, (dd) 2014-15 and (ee) 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
(a) No SASSA senior officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any province for any of the years indicated. There is currently an investigation underway in the Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth) and Western Cape (Athlone) provinces.
(b) No Cash Paymaster Services official have been (i)suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charges or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any of the provinces for the periods indicated.
(c) No other officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any of the provinces for any of the years indicated. However, in 2015/16 a criminal case was opened in Western Cape following syndicated fraud activity affecting in excess of 8 000 social grant beneficiary accounts. This investigation is still underway and no further details are available at this time.