Frustrated pensioner from Gugulethu yet to enjoy his social grant

In another case of identity theft, a 63-year-old pensioner from Gugulethu is yet to enjoy a penny of his social grant from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa). This, while someone else in Gauteng – who has all his birth details including names and ID number except the address in Cape Town – is getting all the money.

A former bus driver, Khakhaza Silimela says although he qualified for the grant three years ago, he only applied for it in January this year, only to find out that the money due to him was being paid to somebody he does not even know in what he says is a fraudulent activity.

“I came here to lay a case against Sassa because I don’t get my pension grant. I went there on the 7th of January to open the Sassa (so that) I can get pay. They said to me there is somebody who has got all my documents and he is in Joburg, he’s getting paid there,” says Silimela.

Silimela says he could not rush to apply for his social grant because he was still working even though he was over 60. But now things have changed. He no longer enjoys an income, and this makes things difficult at home.

“The problem is I don’t get money. These people have different stories. Today, they tell me this and they tell me that that’s why I am tired now, that’s why I came and open the case here,” he says.

Sassa authorities say although they are not familiar with this particular case, they encourage people like him to report fraud cases.

“It’s an unfortunate situation. We know that there is an identity theft. There are processes which beneficiaries, the applicants have to follow to make sure that they bring the matter to our attention. They must also open a case with the law enforcement agencies,” says Paseka Letsatsi, Sassa Spokesperson.

Sassa says it’s reigning in on many incidents like this countrywide and is making good progress in this regard.

“We have put all security measures in place. It is not really too bad if you look at the cases that we have. For example, in 2023/2024, we received 138 cases of fraud and we were able to resolve 123 of these cases. So, the problem is not really too big, but you know it’s important for us. Every single case we get, or suspicious fraud, we deal with it,” says Themba Matlou, Acting Sassa Chief Executive.

Sassa says it is clamping down on the alleged fraudsters for what it says is taking food out of the mouths of people like Silimela as one of many victims.