How SASSA's algorithm could be wrongly rejecting grant applicants - EWN

SASSA's automated verification system for the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is creating problems for people whose bank transactions are interpreted as income, according to a legal expert from Wits University.

Busisiwe Kamolane-Kgadima, Deputy Director at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits University, said the system relies heavily on bank verification when determining whether an applicant qualifies for the grant.

The system cross-checks information across government platforms and banks to determine whether applicants have income above the qualifying threshold.

While she said there was no objection to SASSA checking whether people were receiving income above the threshold or “double-dipping”, the problem was that the process was completely automated.

“The problem is that one of the main factors that is used to determine whether or not you are eligible is the bank verification, so they depend heavily on that,” Kamolane-Kgadima said.