, SJD1501 Assignment 6 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 2 2025 - DUE 20 October 2025; 100%
TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and
explanations.
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa? (200
words, 5 marks)
Corruption in the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) appears
to stem from a combination of weak systems, poor oversight,
opportunities for fraud, and institutional capacity problems.
First, the SRD grant application and payment system contains technical
vulnerabilities: e.g. weak or missing authentication, ability to submit lots
of applications per phone number, inadequate encryption, and no rate-
limiting on queries of ID numbers. These allow fraudsters to use other
people’s ID numbers (including those just turning 18) to apply, or to
“game” the system.
Second, there is insufficient oversight and accountability. Investigations
have been delayed or begun only after public exposure; many offices are
understaffed or missing essential capacity; the call centres often can't
provide clear information; many Sassa branches are under-equipped
with few service points.
Third, there is complexity in coordination: applications depend on
external verification (e.g. from Home Affairs for IDs), so gaps or
weaknesses in those systems make fraud easier. c
Finally, systemic neglect over time seems to have compounded the
issue: the agency allowed known flaws to persist (e.g. for years before
students exposed them), which suggests that corruption is enabled by
institutional inertia or unwillingness to act fast.
Semester 2 2025 - DUE 20 October 2025; 100%
TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and
explanations.
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa? (200
words, 5 marks)
Corruption in the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) appears
to stem from a combination of weak systems, poor oversight,
opportunities for fraud, and institutional capacity problems.
First, the SRD grant application and payment system contains technical
vulnerabilities: e.g. weak or missing authentication, ability to submit lots
of applications per phone number, inadequate encryption, and no rate-
limiting on queries of ID numbers. These allow fraudsters to use other
people’s ID numbers (including those just turning 18) to apply, or to
“game” the system.
Second, there is insufficient oversight and accountability. Investigations
have been delayed or begun only after public exposure; many offices are
understaffed or missing essential capacity; the call centres often can't
provide clear information; many Sassa branches are under-equipped
with few service points.
Third, there is complexity in coordination: applications depend on
external verification (e.g. from Home Affairs for IDs), so gaps or
weaknesses in those systems make fraud easier. c
Finally, systemic neglect over time seems to have compounded the
issue: the agency allowed known flaws to persist (e.g. for years before
students exposed them), which suggests that corruption is enabled by
institutional inertia or unwillingness to act fast.
