“Leshilo o leitia mahlo, wale itia marago ole tsoshitse/ goba wale phazamisha”: Victim-centered solutions for social grant fraud in rural Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, social grants preserve recipients’ human dignity, enhance their quality of life and unlock their full potential. Social grants support approximately 46% of the South African population and they have a substantial impact on the lives of 27.8 million recipients. The fact that Limpopo is the province with the second-highest number of households receiving at least one type of grant motivated this study. A qualitative inquiry was conducted, and a phenomenological research design was adopted to explore social grant fraud in Kgobokwane village in Limpopo through a criminological theoretical lens. Eight participants who had experienced South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) fraud were interviewed. The findings laid the groundwork for recommendations and shed light on the risk factors behind victimization, the community's role, the significance of culture and language, and the underreporting of crimes. This paper seeks to help recipients of social grants and underprivileged communities make well-informed decisions to combat social grant fraud. Its recommendations aim to empower victims and promote education and awareness to minimize victimization.