SASSA warns: ‘Ubuntu Life' misusing name and logo
SASSA has distanced itself entirely from the company, confirmed it has no affiliation or agreement with it, and urged South Africans to remain vigilant and report any fraudulent activities.
'SASSA wishes to unequivocally distance itself from any association with this entity and to refute any claims or suggestions that Ubuntu Life is affiliated, endorsed, or contracted by SASSA in any capacity.'
it furthermore said SASSA is a statutory body responsible for the administration and payment of social grants in South Africa.
Any misuse of its identity, name, logo, representations suggesting affiliation, constitutes a serious misrepresentation and potential violation of South African law, including the Trademarks Act and relevant fraud legislation.
Chief Executive Officer, Mr Themba Matlou, has urged the public to remain vigilant and not engage with any individuals or organisations that claim to operate on behalf of SASSA without official verification.
He said SASSA does not outsource grant applications or beneficiary services to private companies such as Ubuntu Life or any other company for that matter.
'We appeal to the members of the public, especially our beneficiaries, not to fall prey to these fraudulent acts committed in SASSA's name. Please exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of such acts with SASSA before partaking in them,' Matlou said.
He further reiterated that SASSA does not charge any fees for social grant services as the services are rendered for free only by employed SASSA officials. A
ll official SASSA communications come via its official platforms and service points.
If anyone has been approached or misled by Ubuntu Life or any similar entity, they are urged to report the matter immediately to the nearest South African Police Service or call SASSA on its toll free number, 0800 60 10 11 or email [email protected].
Matlou said SASSA's legal team has taken steps to initiate formal action against the unlawful use of its brand and will pursue all legal avenues to protect the integrity of its services and the safety of South African social grant beneficiaries.
Also read: SASSA payment dates for August 2025: What you need to know
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
South African woman arrested in Bali for alleged drug smuggling
Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. Two people from Brazil and South Africa have been charged in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle four kilograms (8.8 pounds) of drugs into Bali, the anti-narcotics agency said Thursday. The pair were travelling separately when they were arrested on 13 July at the resort island's international airport and could face the death penalty if found guilty. The Brazilian man was allegedly carrying two plastic bags containing just over three kilograms of cocaine in his backpack and luggage, I Made Sinar Subawa, from the local anti-narcotics agency, told a news conference. ALSO READ: Child of South African drug mule in Mauritius prison to return home Made said the suspect was a courier and had been told to deliver the package to a man living in Bali. The South African woman was arrested after arriving from Singapore on the same day with nearly one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine allegedly hidden in her clothing. 'Based on the interrogation, she confessed that she was ordered to carry the meth from Johannesburg to Bali, to be delivered to someone in Bali,' Made said. Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. There are dozens of traffickers on death row in the country, including a cocaine-smuggling British grandmother. ALSO READ: OR Tambo International now a hub for drug mules — expert Indonesia last carried out executions in 2016, killing one Indonesian and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad. Drug smuggling cases This is not the first case of South African women being arrested in foreign countries for drug smuggling. Mauritius has seen multiple arrests of South African women involved in drug trafficking. A South African woman was arrested after allegedly being caught with drugs with an estimated value of Rs 8 million (just over R3.3 million) at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in Mauritius on 17 September 2019. ALSO READ: Cocaine on a plane at OR Tambo – again: Drug mule nabbed with 33 'bullets' Mauritius' Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) in collaboration with the officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section of the MRA intercepted the woman coming from Reunion after being alerted of the 'suspicious behaviour' of the woman. The woman, 34-year-old Nokuphila Mtshali, from KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly introduced herself as a businesswoman who would be on the island for five days. The officials searched her and found three plastic-wrapped bundles in her private parts containing 528 grams of heroin. The woman reportedly cooperated with the officials, who arranged a fake delivery with fake drugs in an attempt to find her accomplices, reported Mauritius' The fake delivery led to the arrest of two Nigerian men, Ndubuisi Samuel Ebielonwu, 33, and Eze Collins, 31, and police confiscated an iPhone and cash in rands, Mauritian rupees, US dollar and naira. The woman was reportedly promised R40,000 for a successful delivery. ALSO READ: SA woman arrested for 'drugs in vagina' for two Nigerians in Mauritius A year before, 30-year-old Thami Nomathamsanqa Dyasi was allegedly caught with pellets of heroin weighing more than 1.25kg concealed in her private parts and stomach, according to Mauritian reports. Additional reporting by Vhahangwele Nemakonde
IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
Public Works Minister takes action against alleged political abuse in Matjhabeng's EPWP
EPWP payments frozen in Matjhabeng amid claims of councillors receiving over R31,000 monthly; Minister vows to root out corruption and restore the programme's core purpose. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has halted all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) fund transfers to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. This comes after a City Press investigation revealed that the municipality's EPWP payroll is allegedly being used to pay inflated salaries, over R31,000 per month , to former councillors and current political office bearers, more than ten times the average EPWP stipend. Macpherson said the EPWP was never meant to serve as a vehicle for political patronage, but rather to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities to unemployed South Africans. He has now instructed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to suspend all transfers to the municipality until a formal investigation is completed.
The South African
16 hours ago
- The South African
Police captain commits suicide after killing girlfriend and her brother
Gauteng police have opened an inquest docket in Protea after a police captain committed suicide after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend and her brother. The incident happened in Protea, Soweto, on Saturday night, 26 July. South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Gauteng, colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said it is alleged that the group was at home celebrating the birthday of the captain's girlfriend, who is also a police officer. 'The captain reportedly called the girlfriend to the side, and that is when people saw him draw a firearm, and shoot her and her brother dead while three other civilians sustained injuries. He then turned the gun on himself,' Nevhuhulwi explained. Two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and an inquest docket were opened at Protea police station for further investigation. Meanwhile Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni expressed his sadness at this incident and sent his heartfelt condolences to the affected families. 'We give our members these tools to protect themselves against criminals, so it is very disheartening to see the very same tools being used to kill their loved ones. I urge our members to make use of employee health and wellness facilities to assist them to deal with any problems they may be facing, whether work or personal, EHW is always there', Mthombeni said. Recently, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) called on the SAPS to strengthen its mental health and wellness support programmes for officers, following a tragic incident involving one of its own. A female police constable, Ntombethemba Mgidi, appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court on Monday, 22 July, after being arrested in connection with the fatal shootings of two fellow officers in the Mbayimbayi area near Murchison on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast last week. Both victims later died from their injuries at Murchison Hospital. 'This act of violence highlights the urgent need for SAPS to intensify internal wellness and psychological support programmes that help members manage relational and emotional pressures,' said POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
