Families urged to stop fight over child support
Mogane said in a recent press realease Sassa had noticed a trend of infighting between families and relatives over the payment of grants in particular. He said the agency was caught in the middle of having to adjudicate as who was the rightful recipient within the family or relatives to receive the payment.
Moffat Mogane, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) regional manager in Mpumalanga, has urged families and relatives to stop fighting over child-support grants (CSGs).
Mogane said in a recent press realease Sassa had noticed a trend of infighting between families and relatives over the payment of grants in particular. He said the agency was caught in the middle of having to adjudicate as who was the rightful recipient within the family or relatives to receive the payment.
He said the Social Assistance Acts stated that the CSG was meant for the child and the money was to be paid to any person, parent or guardian responsible or looking after the child.
“All primary caregivers must provide proof that they are not the biological parents or guardian. This comes after Sassa received many enquiries from primary caregivers who are being challenged by families and relatives that they do not qualify to look after the kid,” said Mogane.
A primary caregiver is a person who looks after the daily needs of the child. Mogane said those who still needed to register child-support grants should be aware that their application would be unsuccessful without proof.
He said an affidavit from the police station, social worker or a letter from the school principal which the child attended, was preferable. Mogane emphasised that this proof allowed agency officials to process the application and ensure that the grant was being issued for a right person. “This document will also testify that you are not stealing from the government pocket,” concluded Mogane.
The requirements to apply for support grant are:
• the primary caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee,
• both the applicant and the child must reside in SA,
• must provide a birth certificate for the child • and the applicant and spouse must meet the requirements of a means test.
In June 2013 the local Sassa offices in Emjindini were burgled and two computers “mysteriously” disappeared. At the time, Sassa spokesman, Senzeni Ngubeni said a possibility of an inside job to conceal evidence could not be ruled out.
The computers were said to contain classified and highly sensitive administrative information regarding grant beneficiaries. The incident happened shortly after the agency had started to address grant fraud committed by officials and beneficiaries.
Despite Sassa vowing not to leave any stone unturned following the burglary, no outcome has released to the public to date.
