Committee Welcomes Preliminary Investigation Report on Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant System Weaknesses – Africa.com
The Portfolio Committee on Social Development welcomes the preliminary investigation report which confirms the validity of the findings of the vulnerability assessment and penetration testing challenges of the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Social Distress Relief (SRD) grant application and payment system.
The system assessment identified multiple vulnerabilities, including potential issues with authentication mechanisms, server configuration, data encryption, and missing security headers. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to exploit weaknesses in the system.
These vulnerabilities may compromise the security and functionality of the system. The impact of the identified issues poses significant risks, including unauthorized access to sensitive information, system disruption and potential non-compliance with data protection laws. The vulnerabilities also put SASSA at risk of reputational damage and loss of public trust.
The preliminary investigation report recommended that SASSA implement targeted security improvements to reduce further risks. These include the adoption of multi-factor authentication, enhanced verification protocols, expanded biometric checks, and end-to-end encryption of sensitive data. These measures will reduce the possibility of fraudulent activity and ensure the secure handling of beneficiary information, further safeguarding the integrity of the SRD system.
The committee believes that implementing the report’s recommendations and deepening the investigation will determine how much money may have been lost due to fraudulent activity, identify theft in the system, identify the culprits involved, and manage the subsequent consequences.
The Committee appreciates the commitment of the Minister of Social Development, Ms. Sisisi Tolash, to involve law enforcement and government agencies, such as the Special Investigations Unit and the National Security Agency. Her commitment shows she takes the matter as seriously as the committee does.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Republic of South Africa: Parliament.
