SASSA suspends 70,000 grants amid nationwide review
SASSA says it has reviewed 240,000 social grants, suspending 70,000 due to non-compliance.
Image: Sassa
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reviewed 240,000 social grants, leading to the suspension of 70,000 grants due to non-compliance.
Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said the review process aims to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive grants, while also preventing fraud.
“The more we save, the more our people are covered with social assistance,” Matlou said, highlighting the review's role in safeguarding against fraud and ensuring efficient resource allocation, especially given the pressure on the government's budget.
The review process, required by the Social Assistance Act, 2004, obligates beneficiaries to report any changes in circumstances, including income or marital status or contact details, to help maintain accurate records and prevent ineligible individuals from receiving benefits.
Matlou explained that SASSA has partnered with institutions like SARS, credit bureaus, and NSFAS to verify beneficiaries' eligibility.
"Through data matching, we've identified thousands of beneficiaries who may no longer qualify," he said.
He said SASSA has flagged 495,296 beneficiaries for further review and has already contacted most of them to undergo verification.
SASSA has also partnered with credit bureaus to cross-check applicants' financial status. Matlou detailed how some individuals may falsely claim unemployment to qualify for grants, only to later obtain loans or financial products under false pretenses.
A key innovation in the review process is biometric enrolment for new applicants and the rollout of e-Life Certification, which allows beneficiaries to complete life certification remotely via an online portal.
For the current financial year, SASSA set a target to complete 420,000 reviews, with nearly 400,000 beneficiaries already notified. Of the 240,000 grants reviewed, 70,000 were suspended due to non-compliance. Despite challenges, SASSA remains confident in meeting its target, he said.
SASSA’s collaboration with other government agencies has helped identify beneficiaries with alternative sources of income or who may no longer be eligible for other reasons, such as incarceration.
In the third quarter alone, Motlu said 162,574 clients were flagged for review whose eligibility is under review and sent notifications to 25,377 beneficiaries in December 2025, urging them to come forward for verification.
Matlou emphasised the importance of updating contact details to avoid missed notifications.
To address this he noted that the agency has introduced a fourth payment date in the cycle to alert beneficiaries who missed a payment within the first three days and encourage them to contact SASSA.
The review process has already saved the government approximately R44 million per month, or R0.5 billion annually, Matlou said.
SASSA’s reviews and life certification processes are crucial for confirming beneficiaries’ continued eligibility, preventing payments to deceased individuals, and identifying fraud.
Matlou assured the public that while grants would not be cancelled outright based on the review process, beneficiaries who fail to comply with the review requirements risk having their grants suspended or lapsed.
“Failure to comply may result in the suspension of grants, and continued non-compliance could lead to the eventual lapse of the grant,” he warned.
Despite operational challenges, Matlou emphasised that SASSA remains committed to protecting the dignity and rights of beneficiaries.
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