The latest exposé by GroundUp and HeartFM has revealed potential huge fraud inside social grants company Sassa’s Social Aid of Misery (SRD) system.
Uncovered by two-first yr pc science college students, 300 000 IDs had been queried in opposition to the SRD system, exhibiting that just about 75 000 of these IDs had been utilized in SRD purposes.
These IDs all belong to individuals born in February 2005. Whereas StatsSA information exhibits that 82 000 individuals had been born inside that month, this implies there was a 91% utility charge of individuals born in that month – a extremely questionable determine.
Whereas Sassa initially admitted that widespread fraud exists, it later denied the claims from the report, insisting on the effectiveness of its cybersecurity countermeasures.
Nevertheless, the very fact stays that these college students have recognized a number of cyber vulnerabilities that Sassa’s system harbours. This matter additionally raises severe issues in regards to the administration of non-public information, particularly contemplating that 28 million South Africans depend on Sassa grants. These affected by potential ID fraud could discover it tough to entry much-needed assist sooner or later.
Fragmented
This example underscores the truth that authorities IT methods are fragmented, with only a few speaking to 1 one other. Strengthening native information administration via funding in information governance methods and cybersecurity professionals is essential.
South Africa should prioritise information safety by counting on native expertise and infrastructure to safe delicate info.
Stefan Gerber
Co-founder, Tregter
- TechCentral welcomes letters to the editor. Please ship correspondence to editor at techcentral dot co dot za. Correspondence can be revealed on the editor’s discretion
