Black Sash raises concerns over SASSA biometric enrolment rollout, impact on beneficiaries raised
Civil society group Black Sash has raised concerns about the roll out of South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) mandatory biometric system.
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Black Sash has welcomed efforts to curb fraud in the social grant system but raised serious concerns about the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) readiness to roll out mandatory biometric enrolment, which came into effect on Monday, September 1.
“Black Sash welcomes any medium that would help reduce fraud and ensure the integrity of the social grant payment system. However, we are concerned as to whether SASSA has the necessary infrastructure and capacity to take on this mammoth task,” said Black Sash national advocacy manager, Evashnee Naidu.
She warned that the measures could burden beneficiaries if not properly planned.
“The announcement that this could also impact beneficiaries who have already been approved but have not completed biometric verification is another cause for concern, as we have witnessed the challenges SASSA is currently experiencing with the ongoing reviews that they are conducting. These measures, if not implemented with a proper plan, will place a burden on social grant beneficiaries and force them to bear the cost of this.”
Naidu highlighted access as the “greatest concern” for grant recipients.
“SASSA offices are not always situated in communities for easy access, and these costs are borne by beneficiaries to visit these offices. Should SASSA not have the necessary capacity or infrastructure to roll this process out both for new applications and for reviews, this will force beneficiaries to be turned away and have to return on multiple occasions to be assisted. SASSA should communicate effectively with all beneficiaries about the process and how it will be implemented, as well as increase their outreach into communities so that they bring services to our people and ensure that no one is left behind.”
Data protection was also raised as a key issue. “Black Sash has seen first-hand how social grant beneficiaries can be preyed upon by predatory third parties if information is not stored appropriately or access is given to third parties, and we hope that SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs are taking the necessary measures to ensure that beneficiary information is safely captured, stored, and protected.”
She urged the agency to ensure that its systems are fully tested before implementation.
“SASSA should ensure that they have proper safeguards in place and have fully tested their system to ensure that both their system and that of the Department of Home Affairs can deal with the influx of beneficiaries that need to be enrolled onto the system. Should there be any technical glitches, SASSA must ensure that they create an appointment system to address beneficiaries that are already awaiting services, as well as rather go into communities so that beneficiaries do not bear the cost and burden of coming to them, only to be turned away.”
SASSA, in a statement issued last month, said the new system was designed to “revolutionise the administration of social grants” by strengthening its risk controls and preventing fraudulent activities.
Chief executive officer Themba Matlou said: “Our plans were to commence with biometric enrolment at the beginning of the 2025/2026 financial year; however, we hit a snag, but we have ironed out the issues that delayed our plans, and it is all systems go for the implementation.”
The agency said that grant applications will include fingerprint enrolment or facial recognition through electronic Know Your Client (eKYC). Applications without biometric data will be placed into a review cycle, with applicants notified to complete biometric capture.
SASSA outlined benefits of the rollout, including a significant reduction in fraudulent applications and duplicate payments, reliable verification of beneficiary authenticity, enhanced audit outcomes, and improved public trust in the social assistance programme.
The agency said staff had been trained throughout August and the necessary infrastructure set up in all its offices to ensure readiness for the launch.