, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa?
The causes of corruption within the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are multifaceted,
stemming from vulnerabilities in its IT infrastructure, the involvement of internal officials in
fraudulent schemes, and a lack of proper oversight and accountability.
Firstly, weaknesses in SASSA's IT systems have significantly contributed to the prevalence of
corruption. These vulnerabilities, such as inadequate rate limits on public portal queries and weak
authentication protocols, allow individuals to exploit the system easily. For example, fraudsters can
manipulate the system to register false identities or use the personal details of those who have
recently turned 18, leading to grants being misappropriated by ineligible recipients (Cedras, 2024).
Secondly, internal collusion between SASSA officials and external syndicates has played a critical
role in perpetuating corruption. Reports indicate that certain grant administrators have worked with
organized groups to include fraudulent recipients in the payment system, enabling widespread abuse
(Damons, 2025). The involvement of SASSA staff members as facilitators of these schemes
exacerbates the problem, as their position allows them to manipulate data without detection.
Lastly, the absence of effective oversight and accountability has allowed corruption to persist within
the agency. Despite recurring reports from the Auditor-General about financial mismanagement and
irregularities, the failure to implement meaningful consequences for wrongdoers has allowed corrupt
practices to continue unchecked (Mputing, 2024; Watch, 2025). This lack of accountability creates
an environment conducive to corruption.
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa?
The causes of corruption within the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are multifaceted,
stemming from vulnerabilities in its IT infrastructure, the involvement of internal officials in
fraudulent schemes, and a lack of proper oversight and accountability.
Firstly, weaknesses in SASSA's IT systems have significantly contributed to the prevalence of
corruption. These vulnerabilities, such as inadequate rate limits on public portal queries and weak
authentication protocols, allow individuals to exploit the system easily. For example, fraudsters can
manipulate the system to register false identities or use the personal details of those who have
recently turned 18, leading to grants being misappropriated by ineligible recipients (Cedras, 2024).
Secondly, internal collusion between SASSA officials and external syndicates has played a critical
role in perpetuating corruption. Reports indicate that certain grant administrators have worked with
organized groups to include fraudulent recipients in the payment system, enabling widespread abuse
(Damons, 2025). The involvement of SASSA staff members as facilitators of these schemes
exacerbates the problem, as their position allows them to manipulate data without detection.
Lastly, the absence of effective oversight and accountability has allowed corruption to persist within
the agency. Despite recurring reports from the Auditor-General about financial mismanagement and
irregularities, the failure to implement meaningful consequences for wrongdoers has allowed corrupt
practices to continue unchecked (Mputing, 2024; Watch, 2025). This lack of accountability creates
an environment conducive to corruption.
