How having your ID number listed on a gambling site can affect your SASSA grant
We spoke to SASSA Spokesperson, Dr Paseka Letsatsi, to establish whether grant beneficiaries whose ID numbers are registered on gambling or betting sites will lose their social grants.
Hundreds of thousands of households across South Africa rely on social grants to help cover their day-to-day expenses. According to the latest poll by Ipsos 40% of South Africans depend on government grants to survive, with 37% of grant recipients depending on the R370 SRD grant.
Gambling your SASSA grant money
A poster has been making the rounds on social media, claiming that people who have registered their ID numbers on gambling or betting platforms could have their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants, including the Child Support Grant, cancelled.
But is there any truth to the claim?
SASSA Spokesperson Dr Paseka Letsatsi says beneficiaries will not lose their grant because of having their ID numbers registered on gambling sites.
"There is currently no policy, legislation, regulation or grant condition that automatically disqualifies, suspends or terminates a social grant solely because a beneficiary is registered on a gambling or betting platform," says Dr Letsatsi.
"This means that simply having your ID number registered on a gambling or betting site does not, by itself, mean that you will lose your SASSA grant," adds Dr Letsatsi.
However, the spokesperson says the grant is aimed at helping beneficiaries cover their basic needs, and the money should be used responsibly.
"While SASSA encourages beneficiaries to use their social grants responsibly and for their intended purpose, grant eligibility is assessed according to the applicable legislative and policy requirements. This includes the means test and other qualifying criteria relevant to the specific type of grant. Therefore, beneficiaries should not assume that the viral notice represents a new rule or change to SASSA’s grant requirements."
What should beneficiaries do if they receive the notice?
SASSA has advised beneficiaries to be cautious about information shared on social media, particularly when it concerns their grants.
"Beneficiaries are advised to obtain information only from official SASSA communication channels and to be cautious of unverified messages circulated through social media and other platforms," says Dr Letsatsi.
SASSA also stressed that it would communicate any official changes affecting grant eligibility or payment conditions through its recognised communication channels.
"Any official changes affecting grant eligibility or payment conditions would be communicated through SASSA's recognised communication channels and applicable government processes."
So, if you have seen the viral notice claiming that your grant will be cancelled because your ID number is registered on a gambling site, there is currently no need to panic.
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