Latest news with #SRD
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Social Development Minister to probe alleged grant fraud in Breede Valley
Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers SOCIAL Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is set to probe a fraudulent scheme in which hundreds of Worcester and Rawsonville residents, mostly 18-year-olds, were allegedly unknowingly registered for a R370 monthly poverty grant but never received any payments. The alarm was raised by GOOD councillors in the Breede Valley Municipality who uncovered the alleged fraud while working with community activists on a programme to help destitute residents apply for the South African Social Security Agency's (Sassa) Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD). 'GOOD submitted a complaint to Sassa and the Hawks together with a dossier of 34 separate affidavits from victims of the scheme and a list detailing more than 300 additional victims. 'In its submission to Sassa and the Hawks, the GOOD Party suggests that the fraud is being committed by an individual or individuals with access to information about recipients of Child Support Grants. The modus operandi appears to use the ID numbers of children when they turn 18, and no longer qualify for the child grant, to apply for the SRD grant. The scale of the fraud is impossible for GOOD to determine. GOOD only became aware of it because its Councillors and party activists were working with the community in the Breede Valley region. The same type of fraud could be occurring across the province or the country,' GOOD secretary-general and MPL, Brett Herron said. The pattern they picked up showed that where hundreds of applicants should qualify for the grant, many of whom recently turned 18-years-old, they had their applications declined on the basis that their ID numbers were already linked to the grant. In other words, according to Sassa's system, they are already receiving the grant. According to the applicants, they have never applied for or received the grant. Many report in their affidavits that telephone numbers on Sassa's system linked to their ID numbers don't belong to them. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'While the investigation may take some time, GOOD calls on Sassa to make urgent interim arrangements to ensure that people qualifying for grants are not denied them due to Sassa systemic weaknesses.' Sassa did not respond to several requests for comment on the matter. Sandi Mbatsha, spokesperson to Tolashe confirmed she would look into the matter. The Hawks said they were assessing the case. Hawks spokesperson, Siyabulela Vukubi said: 'The Hawks are aware of the matter but still need to ascertain if this falls with our mandate. At this stage there is nothing to report.' Last year, Stellenbosch University students uncovered a similar trend: a survey of 60 students found that 58 had active SRD grant applications in Sassa's system, yet 56 said they had never applied, suggesting widespread fraud. The students also analysed data from Sassa's public portal and found nearly 75 000 applications for people born in February 2005, despite StatsSA showing only about 82 000 births that month, which pointed to a suspicious 91% application rate. Further analysis revealed that while the average application rate from those born between 1960 to 2006 was 52%, it jumped to 90% for those born between 2002 and 2006, the age group turning 18 since the grant was introduced in 2020. It raised concerns not only about who was receiving the money, but also about eligible individuals potentially being excluded from the support they need. Tolashe earlier this year said a full investigation would be launched into vulnerabilities across all social grants, after irregularities were uncovered in the SRD system. Tolashe did not respond to further requests for comment on the status of the investigation and what measures have been implemented to curb the incidents. Cape Times
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
THESE are the jobs South Africa needs filled in 2025
If you're a school or university leaver, take a look at these jobs South Africa needs filled urgently. Do so and you may secure a career for life, says the Minister for Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth. Specifically, the minister is advocating for skills development to help solve South Africa's high unemployment rate (33%). And while one in every three adults sits without gainful employment, these are the jobs South Africa needs filled … Detractors of the R370 SRD grant say it creates dependance on social welfare and reduces employability. Image: File Beyond our high unemployment rate, Minister Meth believes South African suffers from severe skills mismatch, reports BusinessTech . Responding in a parliamentary Q&A, Meth says school leavers aren't getting training in the jobs South Africa needs filled. Likewise, the South African Social Security Agency was asked to go back to drawing board and rework its 2026 Basic Income Grant proposal. Government wants to see an adaptation of the current Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant with a clearer path towards skills development and employability. Medicine, financial and IT jobs are at the top of the list for South Africa's skills shortage. Image: File As such, Minister Meth says her department is tracking skills shortages and the jobs South Africa needs filled through the Employment Services South Africa (ESSA) database. While many cannot find work, there are 350 occupations in seven categories that carry a high demand score. They are as follows: 1. Medical specialists Psychiatry, Neurology, Oncology, Paediatrics, Pathology (various branches) Dentistry: Prosthodontics, Oral medicine, Maxillofacial surgery Nursing: Perioperative, Emergency, Mental health, Nurse educators Veterinarians, Veterinary nurses Public health professionals 2. Information Technology (IT) ICT security specialists Network analysts & systems engineers 3. Engineering Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Mining engineers Mechatronics & Electronics technicians Naval architects & Aeronautical engineers 4. Financial Sector Actuaries Investment analysts & managers Corporate treasurers Internal & external auditors Market research analysts Supply chain & distribution managers 5. Education & Research University lecturers Senior phase and FET schoolteachers (Grades 8–12) Research and development managers 6. Environmental Planning Urban and regional planners Environmental scientists & managers Climate change scientists Oceanographers & hydrologists 7. Technical & Trade Millwrights Lift mechanics Metal machinists Instrumentation technicians Air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
SASSA confirms SRD R370 payment dates for end of July
Approved SASSA SRD grant recipients can collect their R370 payment between July 25 and 31, 2025. Image: Nadine Hutton/Bloomberg South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries whose Social Relief of Distress (SRD) applications have been approved can expect to receive their R370 payments during the final week of July 2025, starting from Friday ( July 25, 2025) until July 31, 2025. According to SASSA, approved recipients will be paid between 9 am and 5 pm on the following days: Friday, July 25 Saturday, July 26 Sunday, July 27 Monday, July 28 Tuesday, July 29 Wednesday, July 30 Thursday, July 31 "If your SASSA status shows Approved, then you can receive the R370 payment on the following days," SASSA confirms. Applicants are urged to frequently verify their SRD application status, especially if they have submitted an appeal or reconsideration. 'It is very necessary to verify daily that if you are approved for SRD grant funds or not,' SASSA advises. 'Your application is either in pending status, approved, or declined.' For those still awaiting outcomes, the most common application update remains pending. 'This is a very common status that does not have any issues,' SASSA states. It means the application has been received and is undergoing review by SASSA officials. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading However, some applicants might face delays due to issues like failed identity verification. 'This might be due to unclear scans, mismatched information, or missing details,' SASSA explains. Others may receive a 'Self-exclusion response found,' indicating the applicant exceeds the income threshold of R624 per month or is receiving another social grant. In such cases, they do not qualify for the SRD benefit. In another possible case, the application might be forwarded for further checks by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). This is reflected by a 'Referred Status.' According to the agency, there are 80 to 90% chances that your SASSA application will be approved under this status. Beneficiaries can check their approval, appeal status, or payment date by visiting the SASSA status checker online and entering their South African ID number and cellphone number. As the final week of July approaches, approved recipients are reminded to monitor their payment status closely and collect their funds within the specified hours. IOL News
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Beef continues to drive food inflation higher
Beef, fruit and vegetables are edging higher, leaving lower-income households with tough decisions to ensure tummies are full. The annual rate for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) reached a 15-month high of 5.1% in June, Statistics SA revealed in the Consumer Price Index report released on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. 'Meat, particularly beef, continues to be the main driver of food inflation. Beef prices spiked for a third successive month, with high annual and monthly increases recorded for stewing beef, mince and steak. Stewing beef rose by an annual 21.2%, the fastest pace on record since the current CPI series began in January 2017.' Maverick Citizen has been tracking the prices of 14 basic food items that a consumer can buy using R370, the amount of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The food basket hovers above R400, making it unaffordable for those who receive the grant as their only source of income. In our food basket, starches such as rice, flour and mealie meal decreased slightly, which might have given relief, but was countered by the higher prices of beef, fruit and vegetables. Higher electricity tariffs also struck in June. 'Other unprocessed food items also saw an uptick. The annual rates for fruits and nuts, and vegetables, remained in double-digit territory for a second straight month. Products that witnessed sharp price increases in the 12 months to June include beetroot, lettuce and carrots. Peanuts, however, were slightly cheaper,' the report reads. 'Inflation cooled across several food & NAB categories. Lower prices for white rice, hot cereals and cold cereals softened the annual rate for the cereal products category. Although maize meal continues to register high annual increases, the monthly change in June was 0.4%, the lowest since November 2024 (-0.1%),' the report said. Many dairy products are cheaper than a year ago, but higher from month to month. Lower prices were recorded for fresh full-cream milk and fresh low-fat milk, and eggs. These decreases helped pull the milk, other dairy products and eggs index down into lower prices. In the household Affordability Index food basket, the price of 44 essential items costs more than R6,000, while the average cost of the foods prioritised and bought first in the household food basket decreased by R27.25 from R2,955.34 in May 2025 to R2,928.09 in June 2025. But people are paying R83.87 (2.9%) more this year than they were in June 2024 for the same food basket. This is particularly hard on grant recipients and workers on minimum wage. The report says the implications are malnutrition and hunger, as families navigate the costs of food and their other primary bills. 'When the prices of core foods increase, there is less money to secure other important, mostly nutritionally rich foods, which are essential for health and well-being and strong immune systems (meat, eggs and dairy, which are critical for protein, iron and calcium; vegetables and fruit which are critical for vitamins, minerals and fibre; and maas, peanut butter and pilchards, good fats, protein and calcium, essential for children,' the report reads. 'The data shows that the core foods contribute 54% of the total cost of the Household Food Basket. At an average cost of R2,928.09 in June 2025, these foods are relatively very expensive in relation to the total money available in the household purse to secure food. These foods must be bought regardless of price escalations,' the report says. The report plays out multiple minimum wage scenarios, considering transport and electricity, and other basics people prioritise. 'The maximum wage of R4,606.40 in June 2025, when disbursed in a family of four persons, is R1,151.60. This is below the upper-bound poverty line of R1,634 per capita per month. Set at such a low level, the National Minimum Wage] works to institutionalise the low-baseline wage regime and lock millions of workers into poverty.' The report states that lack of wage raises, or raises that do not keep up with inflation, leave workers poorer each year and unable to keep up with price rises. 'The minimum shortfall on food for a family is 48.5% in June 2025. After paying for transport and electricity, workers are left with R1,963.43. If all of this money went to food, [for] the family of four, it would provide R490.85 per person per month. The Food Poverty Line is R796 per person per month,' the index reads. DM
The Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Sassa encourages honesty from grant beneficiaries during income reviews
'We have not experienced a situation where someone has been verified and not been paid. If the person no longer qualifies in terms of the legislation, we will suspend the grant but there hasn't [yet] been any suspension.' Matlou noted that means testing varies depending on the type of grant. For child support grants, it is the primary caregiver's income that is assessed, not the child's. In contrast, the SRD (Covid-19) grant involves more stringent, automated income checks via bank verification to determine eligibility. 'With SRD, we verify through the banks whether there's consistent money that comes through. But for normal grants, the means test usually applies to the primary caregiver only.' To reduce panic and long queues at Sassa offices, Matlou said the agency is developing a self-review online platform so grant recipients can review their own information without visiting offices. Hotspot offices with high volumes are being staffed with additional personnel to handle reviews more efficiently. 'We've only sent out the first rounds of notifications in June. We're still within the review time frame. Once we pass that, and if clients haven't come forward, then suspension will occur not necessarily because they don't qualify but because they failed to do the review.' The agency will publish data on the number of beneficiaries reviewed, the outcomes of those reviews and the number of grants continued or cancelled by the end of July. SowetanLIVE
