DSD warns of viral fake grant alert: No new family support programme
The Department of Social Development (DSD) has warned South Africans to stay alert after a fraudulent message claiming the launch of a new “National Family Support Allowance” began circulating on social media.
The fake post alleges that President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed Social Development Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe to open applications for a three-month allowance of R1 682. The DSD has firmly rejected this message as false and misleading.
The Department says it categorically dismisses this information as fake news, stressing that “there is no such programme, no new cash allowance, and no registration process linked to any ‘National Family Support Allowance’.”
According to the Department, the message appears to be designed to mislead the public and harvest personal information through fraudulent links.
“The message is a scam designed to mislead the public and potentially steal personal information through fraudulent links,” it said.
DSD urged South Africans to ignore the post, refrain from sharing it, and verify any information about social assistance only through trusted and official platforms.
These include “the official DSD website, SASSA and NDA platforms, government social media pages, and the DSD WhatsApp Channel.”
The Department reiterated that all legitimate updates on social protection programmes will always come directly from DSD, its entities, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the National Development Agency (NDA), or official government communication channels.
As misinformation continues to spread rapidly online, the Department appealed to communities to exercise caution and help curb the circulation of false content.
“The Department remains committed to providing reliable and accurate information and urges communities to help stop the spread of misinformation.”
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Cape Argus