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Officials in hot water over child grants

 
Several officials from the Makhado Municipality find themselves with much to explain, after being identified as having allegedly defrauded the country’s social grant system.

Following up on a tip-off last week, Ms Trinesha Naidoo, spokesperson for the country’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU), confirmed to the Zoutpansberger on Monday that 21 officials from the Makhado Municipality were being investigated by the SIU in this regard.

Naidoo said that six of these officials had been served with notices to appear in court on August 27. The six will appear on allegations of defrauding the country’s social grant system with regard to child support grants.

“They are alleged to have either provided false information to access the grants or failed to cancel their grants after their employment status changed by being employed,” Naidoo said. She said that the remaining officials had agreed to sign acknowledgements of debt to pay back the amount they had collected unlawfully.

With regard to what had led to the officials’ being investigated, Naidoo said that in 2005, the Department of Social Development (DSD) requested the SIU to conduct a national investigation into alleged fraud, corruption and maladministration occurring on the Social Pension System. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), custodians of the administration of the social grants nationally, joined the partnership in 2006.

“This investigation therefore forms part of a broader national investigation on the administration of social grants under Proclamation R18 of 2005, which mandates the SIU to investigate the payment or receipt of social grants or benefits by unqualified beneficiaries, and the irregular or unlawful conduct of government officials or agents responsible for the administration or payment of social grants or benefits,” Naidoo said.

With regard to the SIU’s findings, local Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Brain du Plooy reacted by saying that the DA viewed the 21 officials’ actions in a very serious light.

“These civil servants have made themselves guilty of very serious offences, which are nothing other than blatant fraud and corruption. We expect nothing less than their immediate dismissal and prosecution and that the full amounts be repaid. A simple warning will most certainly not suf-fice,” Du Plooy said.

The chairman of the local Chairpersons As-sociation, Mr André Naudé, held a similar view.

“We are of the opinion that fair suspension procedures should be followed against these officials in terms of the Labour Relations Act, otherwise the wrong signals will be sent to all potentially corrupt officials,” Naudé said.

At this stage, however, it looks like the Makhado Municipality has adopted a “wait and see” attitude with regard to the 21 officials in its employment.

When asked to comment on the matter, municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi stated that, at this stage, “it is a private matter between those officials and the SIU as the Makhado Municipality is not responsible for social grants and the officials still have to appear be-fore a court of law”.

Asked whether the municipality would suspend these officials or take disciplinary actions against them, Bobodi stated that the “Bargaining Council dictates the criteria for misconduct” and that, as things stand at present, “these officials have not contravened any house rule of the municipality”.

As for who the 21 officials are, this is not yet known. Rumour, however, has it that the list of 21 names includes those of several high-ranking officials, as well as councillors. When asked to confirm whether high-ranking officials and councillors were involved, Bobodi refused to comment.

News - Date: 21 August 2009

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

Email: [email protected]

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