, SJD1501 Assignment 6
Semester 2 2025
DUE 20 October 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
Questions
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa? (200 words, 5
marks)
Corruption in SASSA arises mainly from weak internal controls and outdated
systems. The articles show that the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payment
system contains serious vulnerabilities, such as the ability to apply for grants using
ID numbers of young people who have just turned 18. These loopholes were
exploited to create fraudulent applications. Poor coordination between SASSA and
the Department of Home Affairs also allows inaccurate verification of identity data.
In addition, chronic understaffing, long queues at branches, and dysfunctional call
centres create an environment where desperate applicants rely on intermediaries or
bribes to speed up services. The lack of transparency in tendering processes for
payment contractors has historically opened opportunities for kickbacks and
mismanagement. Oversight has also been slow or ineffective: Parliament’s own
committee found that an investigation costing over R280,000 ―failed to answer
critical questions‖ about SASSA’s systems. Overall, inadequate digital security,
insufficient monitoring of staff behaviour, weak procurement oversight, and a
culture of impunity for misconduct combine to create fertile ground for fraud and
corruption in SASSA’s operations.
Semester 2 2025
DUE 20 October 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
Questions
1. In your opinion, what are the causes of corruption in Sassa? (200 words, 5
marks)
Corruption in SASSA arises mainly from weak internal controls and outdated
systems. The articles show that the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payment
system contains serious vulnerabilities, such as the ability to apply for grants using
ID numbers of young people who have just turned 18. These loopholes were
exploited to create fraudulent applications. Poor coordination between SASSA and
the Department of Home Affairs also allows inaccurate verification of identity data.
In addition, chronic understaffing, long queues at branches, and dysfunctional call
centres create an environment where desperate applicants rely on intermediaries or
bribes to speed up services. The lack of transparency in tendering processes for
payment contractors has historically opened opportunities for kickbacks and
mismanagement. Oversight has also been slow or ineffective: Parliament’s own
committee found that an investigation costing over R280,000 ―failed to answer
critical questions‖ about SASSA’s systems. Overall, inadequate digital security,
insufficient monitoring of staff behaviour, weak procurement oversight, and a
culture of impunity for misconduct combine to create fertile ground for fraud and
corruption in SASSA’s operations.
