Parliament urges Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to help improve social grant payments
Parliament’s portfolio committee on science, innovation, and technology says digital innovation and stronger collaboration could help reduce challenges affecting social grant beneficiaries.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on science, innovation, and technology has called on entities such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to assist in resolving challenges linked to social grant payments.
Committee chairperson Lusizo Makhubela said South Africa’s social protection programme has faced ongoing digital and technology-related problems, which could be addressed through innovation and improved co-operation between departments.
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“Technology and digitisation should fundamentally transform the state’s good social protection programme to the benefit of the poor people.”
She said the country has advanced government entities with expertise in innovation and science that could contribute towards practical solutions.
Makhubela made the remarks during a media briefing involving parliament’s social services cluster committees. The briefing took place amid the appointment of a new minister of social development and the planned transition from Sassa yellow grant cards to Postbank black cards.
According to Makhubela, digitisation could significantly improve the distribution of social grants, but government’s silo approach has limited progress.
“Digitisation has the potential to reshape social grant disbursement, and that potential has not been leveraged in our country.”
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Makhubela added that collaboration between departments and entities could combine policy, research, and technology to improve service delivery for vulnerable communities.
She also said the migration from Sassa yellow cards to Postbank black cards should not create frustration for beneficiaries.
“The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has and should provide the technical capability required to build a modern, high-speed, secure, and sovereign digital state.”
She said locally developed biometric systems could help protect public funds while ensuring grants reach the correct beneficiaries.
Makhubela cautioned against delaying the country’s progress towards innovation and digital transformation.
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