The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) introduced a biometric identity verification system. This new measure aims to reduce the risk of social grant fraud, particularly targeting theSocial Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. However, the move has sparked significant concerns among advocacy groups and beneficiaries.
Sassa says the biometric verification process is required for all SRD grant applicants who want to update their mobile numbers or banking details. Individuals who are suspected of identity theft will also be subject to biometric verification.
In instances where any of the above situations have been identified or have occurred, Sassa may mandate these clients to undergo compulsory electronic identity verification to secure their grant application and payment. This initiative is also aimed at eliminating fraudulent social grant applications.
Individuals who are flagged by Sassa must complete the biometric verification to complete their Sassa grant application and subsequent payment.
To complete the biometric verification, the applicant must have a smartphone or computer with a high-quality camera, a stable internet connection, and a well-lit environment.
Sasas will provide detailed instructions on the process when the affected client interacts with Sassa for their transaction of interest.
Sassa wanted that individuals who do not complete the biometric identity verification may have their grants suspended. They add that this is a one-time action to unblock accounts or make high-risk changes, and will not affect any other grant benefits.
We assure our clients that the agency is committed to their safety and this process will not disrupt any other client not listed in the categories referenced above.
Civil Groups Hit Back
Despite these assurances, the Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) and other advocacy groups have raised alarms over the new measures.
The beneficiaries we are in contact with who have been affected by this action are not perpetrators or victims of fraud or identity theft. They are community members living in food poverty who have a right to assistance from the State, many of them caregivers to children.
The coalition also expressed concern that Sassa introduced these new security measures without providing beneficiaries with any period of notice leading to sudden suspensions of grant payments.
UBIC acknowledges the importance of safeguarding against fraudulent activities but at the same time points out yet again that the scale of unfair inclusion in the SRD grant is dwarfed by the scale of unfair exclusion of beneficiaries—a travesty made worse again by these new punitive actions.
Elizabeth Raiters from #PayTheGrants says that even if beneficiaries complete the verification, they may still miss out on receiving their grants due to the allocated pay dates. "While we understand the necessity to curb fraud, the manner and timing in which Sassahas rolled out these changes have placed an undue burden on already vulnerable individuals," she said.
While the biometric system is part of a broader effort by Sassato to collaborate with industry stakeholders and use automated systems to identify and prevent fraud, the UBIC argues that the use of third-party data and automated profiling could unfairly flag beneficiaries without transparency or informed consent.
It is unclear the extent to which beneficiaries have provided informed consent to their data being shared and used in this way. It is also unclear whether beneficiaries can request information on how an automated decision affecting their access to income was arrived at, or to seek recourse for harms arising from such decisions.
Additionally, they expressed concerns about a new, unofficial requirement for beneficiaries to obtain Smart ID Cards to receive verification links.
They say this requirement is not reflected in official government policy and poses an additional barrier to access for those in need. They add that it could leave vulnerable grant applicants without critical relief while they await their IDs from Home Affairs.
In addition, Smart ID Cards can take time to obtain from the Department of Home Affairs, and this change may effectively deprive beneficiaries of their grants for one or more months. We request urgent clarification from Sassa as to whether this is indeed a new requirement, and if so, why, and to whom it is being applied.
The UBIC called on Sassa and the Department of Social Development to be transparent and ensure that all eligible beneficiaries can access their grants without unnecessary barriers.
