An allegedly flawed fraud detection system is now automatically cancelling SASSA SRD grants. What can beneficiaries do?
The automatic fraud detection system was called out as being unfair last year by the Universal Basic Income Coalition .The South African Social Security Agency branch in Mpumalanga says it has begun automatically cancelling any R370 COVID-19 SRD grant payments it flags as fraudulent. Last year the agency received backlash for an automated fraud detection system that could cancel grants even for people that may not be able to prove they are legitimate beneficiaries.
SASSA told beneficiaries in Mpumalanga on Monday that it was “mandated” to cancel all fraudulent grant payments. “SASSA implemented this activity to ensure that the Agency pays social grants to the right people and avoid fraud.on SASSA’s automated fraud detection system, saying that it made recipients “jump through yet more hoops to access their meagre entitlements” and prove that they are not fraudulent recipients.
SASSA apparently places these profiles on suspension until the owners can complete a biometric identification process. UBIC says, as per the agency, “While we understand the necessity to curb fraud, the manner and timing in which SASSA has rolled out these changes have placed an undue burden on already vulnerable individuals,” said Elizabeth Raiters of #PayTheGrants, a member of UBIC.
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