MPs flag concerns over SASSA verification process
Members of Parliament have raised concerns over SASSA’s new grant verification process, which requires in-person reviews and biometric checks.
They say this will leave behind many poor and rural beneficiaries who struggle to access their grants.
Treasury has warned it could withhold funds if SASSA fails to meet conditions, including income and database checks.
With nearly half the population relying on grants, MPs have criticised the system for being costly and inaccessible.
READ: Postbank raises alarm on new SASSA scam
SASSA says it's developing remote verification tools and will submit regular progress reports to Parliament.
Meanwhile, Evashnee Naidu, the KZN manager for civil rights organisation Black Sash says poor communication from SASSA is a also challenge.
" Whilst we know that SASSA is going to community radio stations as well as to mainstream radio stations, and they're also trying to get access to beneficiaries through contact on SMS, we know that many of our beneficiaries do not maintain the same phone numbers.
“So sometimes these SMSs do not go to the right beneficiary because people have changed their numbers."
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