The IFP calls for a thorough assessment of security and safety measures in all Post-Offices in KwaZulu-Natal to ensure that the social grant funds are safe.
This call comes after the reports that robbers broke in at the back entrance to the post office in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal and made off with an undisclosed amount of money, laptops, as well as Sassa cards. Unofficial police sources have indicated that the burglary was only discovered on Wednesday morning, as the alarm did not go off. It is unacceptable that vulnerable Sassa beneficiaries were left stranded at the post office, without money to go back home.
The IFP questions the Post-Office’s security systems capacity and readiness to handle SASSA grant payments. We call for an urgent investigation to verify if this was not an inside job therefore reiterating our previous statement to enforce life-style audits to all SASSA, POST-OFFICE employees and all service providers to ensure transparency and accountability by vetting out all corrupt employees and fraudsters.
We challenge the Post-Office to present its full security systems and back up measures in place to avoid theft.
We challenge the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in the KZN Legislature to summon the Post-Office to appear before the Committee and present a comprehensive security system plans, programmes and back up measures in place to avoid further theft and fraud.
We are also calling for a proper investigation into the possibility of beefing-up management of the security upgrades details related to security aspects of the social grants money in our post-office.
We urge the police to work tirelessly to apprehend the robbers and bring them to book.
Issued by:
Mrs Ncamisile Nkwanyana MPL,
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Social Development
078 302 3991
