The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is planning to use facial recognition technology across the country to improve security after reports of fraud.
This follows after two first-year Computer Science students from Stellenbosch University found that someone applied for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants in their names, with the money going to accounts that weren’t theirs.
In June, Sassa started using a biometric system to reduce fraud, testing facial recognition in the Eastern Cape.
Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said, “The facial recognition was implemented but it was obviously a pilot process which basically started in the Eastern Cape. We intend to roll it out all over the country.”
He added that people without smartphones would still be able to visit Sassa offices for verification, saying, “So, we need to make sure that those individuals are catered for.”
Parliament has also told Sassa to investigate the fraud reported by the students.
“There has been an instruction that we need to go and make an investigation but obviously it can’t be Sassa which does that,” Letsatsi said.
He explained that other departments, like the Department of Home Affairs, will help since they issue ID documents.
“But we do acknowledge that there is identity theft which is taking place,” he added.
By Staff Writer
Pictured above: Sassa grant cards.
Source: X
