Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a panel of service providers to deliver debt collection services on behalf of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) KwaZulu-Natal region. The goal is to effectively trace, recover, and manage outstanding debts owed to SASSA, including debts arising from social grant overpayments, staff overpayments, and other related liabilities, over a period of 36 months.

Scope

The scope encompasses:

• Provision of pre-legal debt collection services for overdue accounts (60 days and above), including debtor identification, tracing, communication, negotiation, and follow-up.
• Legal debt collection activities such as summons preparation, obtaining judgments, and executing court orders.
• Adherence to all applicable legislation, policies, and procedures during debt recovery.
• Provision of hardware and software necessary for debt collection processes at own cost.
• Reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of debt recovery progress.
• Handling of defended and urgent legal matters, including court proceedings at magistrate and high court levels.
• Compliance with confidentiality, ethical standards, and human dignity in debtor interactions.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Availability of an IT infrastructure capable of generating reports, managing debtor data, and supporting collection processes.
• Demonstration of an efficient and ethical debt collection process from initiation to resolution.
• Provision of all necessary hardware and software for debt collection activities.
• Implementation of effective debtor tracing, communication, and negotiation mechanisms.
• Provision of detailed reports on debt collection activities, outcomes, and performance metrics.
• Compliance with relevant legislation such as the Magistrate’s Court Act, Debt Collectors Act, and other applicable laws.
• Insurance coverage and warranties for collection activities and associated risks.

Skills and Experience Requirements

The bidder must demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in debt collection services, with a proven track record of similar projects within the public sector.
• Availability of skilled personnel, including trained debt collectors and qualified legal professionals (e.g., admitted attorneys with High Court rights).
• Capability to manage debt collection management information systems effectively.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, policies, and ethical standards governing debt collection and legal proceedings.
• Qualified project management team with relevant experience and qualifications.
• Ability to provide comprehensive reports, maintain confidentiality, and uphold debtor dignity throughout the process.