Fraudulent COVID-19 SRD Grants Canceled Automatically
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has announced the automatic cancellation of all fraudulent R370 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments.
The SRD grant, governed by Section 32 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004), is intended for South African citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, and special permit holders aged 18 to 60 who lack financial means, do not receive other social grants, are not contributing to or eligible for Unemployment Insurance Fund payments, and have no other source of financial support.
In a statement on Monday, SASSA reiterated its commitment to fighting fraud, ensuring that grants are paid only to eligible beneficiaries. The agency confirmed that all fraudulent payments would be canceled, but affected individuals can reapply for consideration.
“This measure ensures that grants are allocated to rightful beneficiaries and protects the system from fraudulent activity,” SASSA stated. The agency urged beneficiaries to safeguard their identity numbers and avoid sharing them with strangers to prevent fraud.
SASSA has deployed a dedicated team to handle COVID-19 SRD grant cases and encourages beneficiaries to report suspected fraud through its toll-free hotline or WhatsApp service. Beneficiaries who notice their application status marked as “referred” should contact SASSA immediately to resolve the issue.
Additionally, the agency warned beneficiaries against frequently changing their banking and contact details, as these changes can delay payment processing.