SASSA reassures beneficiaries that no payments have been suspended or halted w.r.t ongoing social grant review process

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reassured beneficiaries of social grants that no payments have been suspended or halted due to the ongoing social grant review process.

In April 2025, SASSA announced an ongoing scheduled payment delays to targeted social grants beneficiaries who need to visit local offices to confirm changes in their financial circumstances and update their personal details to address potential inclusion errors in the current social security system. According to SASSA, approximately 210 000 social grant beneficiaries were flagged to be receiving income that was not truthfully disclosed.

SASSA CEO, Themba Matlou, briefed the media on Monday about the social grant reviews that are being undertaken on targeted beneficiaries suspected of having additional sources of income that was not disclosed to the Agency.

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(Pictured: SASSA CEO, Themba Matlou)

Matlou also noted that the agency has this year introduced and implemented a fourth payment date to its payment schedule, where beneficiaries targeted for a review are paid on the fourth day of the payment cycle, to ensure that they receive their payment after the necessary review, “without prejudicing the general payment cycle for others.”

“We believe this strategy is better than previous rounds where beneficiaries who do not receive their notifications only find out that they have been placed on review when they get suspended; at which time it is too late to have their payment for the month re-instated. Those beneficiaries who have not received a notification and are getting their payments on the normal pay dates (between the 2nd and 5th of the month), do not have to contact the agency,” Matlou said.

The CEO acknowledged the challenges during the month of June, where few beneficiaries came forward, except in some offices in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. However, he said the numbers have increased significantly in the month of July.

Matlou stressed that the review of social grants helps identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in their financial, medical, or legal circumstances. The review also serves as a confirmation of life or existence, ensuring that grants are not paid out to deceased individuals or those who have relocated without updating their records. The reviews further allow SASSA to detect and prevent cases where individuals continue receiving grants despite being listed on payroll systems of other entities, including public or private.

“This is being done to safeguard the integrity of the social assistance system [and] to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive support, preventing fraud and misuse of public funds. SASSA is undertaking the social grants review process for the better good of the government fiscus, thus ensuring that grants are paid to eligible beneficiaries and all the fraudulent elements are rooted out,” said Matlou.

Matlou called on those who have not been paid to approach their nearest branch office, as the law doesn't allow the agency to suspend payment immediately.

He assured qualifying beneficiaries that they will receive their grants despite the agency's review process.

 

Done by: Mitchum George