Sassa to bring in biometrics for all grant applications from September

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will introduce mandatory biometric enrolment for beneficiaries at its offices from 1 September.

Until now, the system has only applied to applicants for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and to beneficiaries whose grants are being reviewed by Sassa. Now it will be extended to all new applications. Beneficiaries who want to change their personal details will also have to enter biometric data such as fingerprints or facial scans.

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Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said all grant applications captured and approved from 1 September will include biometric fingerprint enrolment or facial recognition through electronic Know Your Client (eKYC).

Sassa is “ramping up its efforts to improve its systems, detect, and effectively root out any fraudulent elements in the social grant administration,” Letsatsi said in a statement on Monday.

He said Sassa had set up the necessary infrastructure and tools in all its offices to carry out the biometrics.

Already, beneficiaries whose cases are under review by Sassa – because of changes in their financial or personal circumstances – have to undergo biometric registration. In May, Sassa said about 210 000 beneficiaries had been flagged after data from credit bureaus showed undisclosed income. Their grants are withheld until they complete an in-person verification at a Sassa office, but this has left eligible beneficiaries at risk of delayed or suspended payments.

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During a briefing in July, Sassa also promised to extend operating hours and employ more staff, as thousands of grant beneficiaries are called in for in-person reviews.

Letsatsi said biometric data is being taken to ensure grant applicants are “authentic” and to reduce fraud and errors in Sassa’s systems. This is especially because it’s hard for staff at Sassa offices to detect fraudulent green ID books.

He also said that Sassa is committed to paying the correct social grant to beneficiaries. “The agency will not hesitate to act against any of its officials should they be suspected of working with anyone to defraud its systems,” Letsatsi added.

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