SJD1501
Assignment 6
Semester 2 2025
Due 20 October 2025
, SJD1501
Assignment 6
Semester 2 2025
Due 20 October 2025
Question 1: In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in SASSA?
Corruption in the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) arises from systemic
weaknesses, governance failures, and socioeconomic pressures.
The first cause is weak internal controls and poor oversight. Outdated verification
systems, unsynchronised databases, and insufficient auditing create vulnerabilities. For
instance, SASSA continued to pay grants to deceased beneficiaries due to its failure to
align internal databases with those of Home Affairs (News24, 2025). The illegal
awarding of a payment contract to Cash Paymaster Services further illustrates how poor
governance compromises accountability (OUTA, 2023).
Secondly, collusion and abuse of power exacerbate corruption. Employees often
conspire with external actors to manipulate records, alter banking details, or approve
fraudulent claims. Such collusion thrives where political interference influences
decision-making and procurement processes (Parliament of South Africa, 2024).
A third driver is technological and systemic vulnerability. Manual registers and
fragmented digital systems make manipulation possible. Loopholes have also permitted
unauthorized deductions, such as insurance or airtime purchases, from grant recipients’
accounts (RoAPE, 2018).
Finally, socioeconomic pressures and weak enforcement create fertile ground for
corruption. High poverty and unemployment encourage fraudulent claims, while
Assignment 6
Semester 2 2025
Due 20 October 2025
, SJD1501
Assignment 6
Semester 2 2025
Due 20 October 2025
Question 1: In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in SASSA?
Corruption in the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) arises from systemic
weaknesses, governance failures, and socioeconomic pressures.
The first cause is weak internal controls and poor oversight. Outdated verification
systems, unsynchronised databases, and insufficient auditing create vulnerabilities. For
instance, SASSA continued to pay grants to deceased beneficiaries due to its failure to
align internal databases with those of Home Affairs (News24, 2025). The illegal
awarding of a payment contract to Cash Paymaster Services further illustrates how poor
governance compromises accountability (OUTA, 2023).
Secondly, collusion and abuse of power exacerbate corruption. Employees often
conspire with external actors to manipulate records, alter banking details, or approve
fraudulent claims. Such collusion thrives where political interference influences
decision-making and procurement processes (Parliament of South Africa, 2024).
A third driver is technological and systemic vulnerability. Manual registers and
fragmented digital systems make manipulation possible. Loopholes have also permitted
unauthorized deductions, such as insurance or airtime purchases, from grant recipients’
accounts (RoAPE, 2018).
Finally, socioeconomic pressures and weak enforcement create fertile ground for
corruption. High poverty and unemployment encourage fraudulent claims, while
