If you’re one of the millions of South Africans who rely on the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants each month, here’s an important update: Over 210,000 South African social grant recipients will not be getting their payments this June. Why? Because Sassa has flagged them for possibly receiving income they didn’t declare.
Sassa made the announcement yesterday, stating the delay will affect beneficiaries across the country — with a big chunk of the cases coming from KwaZulu-Natal. In fact, about 184,000 of the flagged recipients are in KZN, especially in areas like Chatsworth, Phoenix and eThekwini Central.
According to Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi, the agency has been working with registered credit bureaus to check if grant recipients have any undisclosed income or extra bank accounts. “Beneficiaries who fail to comply with this process risk having their grants suspended,” he said. And if they don’t sort it out after that? Their grants could be permanently stopped.
Here’s what flagged beneficiaries need to know
You have 30 days to go to your nearest Sassa office for a grant review — that’s the only way to keep your grant. This is all part of Regulation 30 of the Social Assistance Act, which says that all grant recipients must report any changes in their financial situation. If you’ve started earning an income or opened a new bank account, you need to let Sassa know.
Why is this system check happening?
“This initiative aims to ensure beneficiaries confirm any changes in their financial circumstances and update their personal details,” Letsatsi said. “It also seeks to address potential inclusion errors in the current social security system.” In other words, you may have qualified for a grant when you first applied, but if your financial situation has improved since then, you might not be eligible anymore.
Sassa’s KZN provincial head, Thamo Mzobe, said the checks are necessary to make sure grants are going to the right people. “This grant is meant for poor people … for people who don’t have income,” he said. “Once we discover that there is an irregularity… we do justice by asking you to come to us and conduct a review.”
It’s not just the flagged people who need to pay attention. Sassa is also encouraging all beneficiaries — even those not contacted — to come forward if their income situation has changed. And if you’re still using one of those old green bar-coded ID books, now’s the time to switch to a smart ID card. The older IDs are more vulnerable to fraud, and Sassa says it wants to tighten security across the board.
This crackdown is part of a bigger effort by Sassa to clean up the system. New rules from National Treasury mean grant recipients now undergo monthly income checks using government databases and bank info. The agency is also rolling out biometric verification for people who don’t have a standard South African ID number.
What does this mean for the rest of the grant recipients?
If you haven’t been flagged, your June grant should still be paid as scheduled:
- Older Persons Grant: Tuesday, 3 June
- Disability Grant: Wednesday, 4 June
- Child Support and all other grants: Thursday, 5 June
Sassa also warned people to ignore social media rumours about double payments. They’re not happening. Only trust updates that come from official Sassa channels.
Over 25 million South Africans currently receive social grants, and the government has budgeted over R284 billion for social assistance this year. With that kind of money on the table, Sassa says it’s serious about making sure it’s going to those who actually need it.
“SASSA reiterates its zero-tolerance stance on fraud, and should there be evidence of any officials colluding with beneficiaries to defraud the system, immediate disciplinary and legal action will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the Agency and prevent financial losses,” Letsatsi said.
Still unsure where you stand? Get in touch with your local Sassa office or check the agency’s website for more info.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
