DSD TO BRIEF PARLIAMENT ON SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS INVESTIGATION AND COURT RULING

By Precious Mupenzi

• The Department of Social Development, along with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), will brief the Parliamentary portfolio committee on social development on the vulnerabilities in the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (cSRD) application and payment system.
• The department will provide the committee on 26 February 2025 an update on the ongoing investigation into fraud and security gaps affecting the system.
• The department will also present a response to a Gauteng High Court judgement which questioned the constitutionality of some of the Social Relief of Distress regulations.

The Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will tomorrow, 26 February 2025, brief Parliament’s portfolio committee on social development on the vulnerabilities in the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (cSRD) application and payment system.

The briefing, scheduled to take place in the morning in Cape Town, will provide an update on the ongoing investigation into fraud and security gaps affecting the Social Relief of Distress system. 

The discussion comes amid growing concerns about fraudulent claims and system loopholes that have allowed ineligible individuals to access relief funds meant for vulnerable citizens.

The committee has requested an in-depth analysis of these vulnerabilities and the measures being taken to strengthen the system’s integrity. 

In addition, the Department of Social Development will provide a response to the North Gauteng High Court judgment in the case involving the Social Relief of Distress brought by the Institute for Democratic Justice and #PaytheGrants.

The case turned on 2(3), 3(2), 5(3)(a) and 6(c) of the cSRD regulations.

Regulation 2(3) deals with validating insufficient means; regulation 3(2) stipulates that an application must be lodged online; regulation 5(3)(a) states that the payments are limited to the amount appropriated for the 2022/2023 financial year to the vote of Social Development for social relief of distress; and regulation 6(c) deals with what information or evidence may not be submitted when lodging an appeal.

The court ruling, which questioned the constitutional validity of the Social Relief of Distress regulations, has raised legal and policy considerations.

The department, which is appealing the judgment, will brief the committee on the court case. 

The cSRD was meant to be a temporary measure to assist the most vulnerable during the pandemic and has been extended every year since its inception.

Parliament’s oversight role is crucial in ensuring that social security mechanisms remain effective, transparent, and aligned with constitutional mandates.