Misuse of SASSA grant is a criminal offense

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has vowed to leave no stone unturned to fight fraud with regard to social grants. SASSA said it has pursued an active fraud prevention strategy and has always exercised a zero tolerance to anyone who commits or is complicit in fraud in the social grant environment. If you are receiving a social grant illegally, you could soon be facing the full might of the law and end up behind bars. The agency will take legal steps against officials and members of the public who have defrauded the system. According to Renay Ogle, of SASSA’s Fraud Management Unit, the agency will show no mercy to the public or employees who are caught up in social grant fraud. “Social grant fraud and corruption does not pay.

Do not continue with it and never get involved with it because you will be caught, investigated, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, jailed and separated from your family,” she warned.
SASSA has also issued a stern warning to parents and guardians who misuse Child Support Grants, that they are violating the right of a child. “Any deviation from the purpose of supporting the child’s needs, according to the Social Assistance Act, will be deemed as abuse or neglect to the child, and classified as a criminal act, which is punishable by law. If the grant is received by the parent, who does not stay with a child not transfer the money to the caregiver, that person must be reported to SASSA offices and also open a criminal case at the local police station.”

This comes after several complaints and allegations surfaced where misuse of the grant had been noted, whether it was for the purchase of alcohol, or transferring the funds to other accounts for personal use.