Fourways High alumni hailed a hero after exposing SASSA grant fraud scheme
Veer Gosai stumbled onto the fraud when he discovered someone had opened a SASSA grant and bank account in his name. He said he, and his friend Joel Cedras, are not done with finding flaws in government and private institutions' network systems and helping to fix them.
When Veer Gosai chose to study computer science, he had no idea where it would lead him. As a computer science student at Stellenbosch University, Veer’s passion for technology led him to uncover a massive fraud scheme in the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant system.
His discovery has shocked many throughout the country, sparking widespread media attention and prompting calls for action.
“I’ve always had a passion for IT, and without these skills, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this,” said Gosai.
He said his IT expertise allowed him to identify vulnerabilities in the SASSA system, enabling mass fraud to occur.
Gosai’s investigation began when he discovered someone had opened a SASSA grant and bank account in his name without his knowledge.
He said he was on the Stellenbosch University Campus with his counterpart, Joel Cedras, when he made the disturbing discovery.
“After numerous phone calls to SASSA and the bank, I found out I was paid a grant into the fraudulent bank account, and the money was transferred out.”
To verify the information, Gosai and Cedras conducted extensive testing, which SASSA later confirmed in a media statement. However, it wasn’t until they publicly shared their findings that they gained the agency’s attention.
Also read: How to apply for a Sassa old age grant
The response to Gosai’s discovery has been overwhelming.
“It feels pretty good, but it also makes me feel like I’ve done something good,” he said. “The SASSA SRD R370 grant is meant for the most vulnerable people. If they’re not getting this, it’s a huge loss and can lead to hunger.”
The Fourways High School alumni said he hopes his findings will lead to improved IT systems, reducing SASSA identity fraud. He said he and Cedras are committed to exposing flaws in government and private sector systems.
Currently, Gosai is working on education websites, which have surpassed 2.5 million visits nationwide. He said he and Cedras aim to continue uncovering vulnerabilities, driving change, and bettering South Africa’s systems.
“Our goal is simple, we find flaws in government and private sector systems, and report them, with the goal of getting them fixed and benefiting the systems in our country.”
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