Since March, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has worked with Net1 UEPS Technologies and Grindrod Bank to distribute more than 2.5 million MasterCard cards, which use biometrics to help fight fraud, identifying grant recipients using fingerprints and other personal information.

South Africans can use their Sassa cards to pay for goods and to check their account balances for free at the point-of-sale. In addition, they can withdraw cash at ATMs and in participating stores for a charge.

The use of biometrics to minimise fraud in paying payroll and benefits is becoming cost-effective. The use of global payment schemes, such as MasterCard, make it even more effective. The next step is to have biometric sensors on smart phones.