SASSA assures beneficiaries that grant payments remain uninterrupted
SASSA has confirmed to social grant beneficiaries that it has not suspended or stopped any payments during the ongoing review process.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has assured social grant beneficiaries that it has not suspended or stopped any payments during the ongoing social grant review process.
Speaking to the media on Monday, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou stressed that all valid, approved grants remain active and that payments are continuing as usual.
“Any beneficiary with an active and valid grant remains entitled to receive their payment,” Matlou said.
Regular reviews
Matlou explained that the Constitution of South Africa and the SASSA Act give SASSA the mandate to administer, manage, and pay social grants to eligible beneficiaries.
He also pointed out that SASSA regularly reviews grants, as required by Regulation 30 of the Social Assistance Act, to ensure each recipient still qualifies based on their current situation.
“Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act requires beneficiaries to notify SASSA of any material change in their circumstances, including financial, marital as soon as reasonably possible. This obligation is also stated in the approval letter each beneficiary receives,” Matlou said.
Targeted reviews
Matlou said that, based on this legislation, SASSA announced in April 2025 its plans to carry out reviews during the 2025/26 financial year. These targeted reviews focus on beneficiaries whose circumstances may have changed, possibly affecting their eligibility for social grants. He added that this year, SASSA introduced a fourth payment date in its payment schedule specifically for those undergoing reviews. This ensures reviewed beneficiaries receive their payments on the fourth day of the cycle, without disrupting the general payment process 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.
On the complaints about access to SASSA offices, 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.
He assured that the agency is constantly monitoring the numbers, and will adjust its operational plans accordingly, to ensure that “it remains within our capacity.”
Importance of the reviews
Matlou emphasised that SASSA reviews social grants to identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in their financial, medical, or legal status.
He explained that the review process also confirms whether recipients are still alive, helping prevent payments to deceased individuals or those who have moved without updating their details.
Additionally, these reviews enable SASSA to detect and stop payments to people who remain on payrolls of public or private entities while still receiving grants.
“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,” Matlou said.
SASSA Executive Manager Grants Administration, Brenton Van Vrede, noted that with the reviews, the agency is not targeting the most vulnerable but those that have multiple sources of income.
“If the mother of the child receives child maintenance from the father or an Older Person’s Grant beneficiary receives some sort of support from their child/children, it is unlikely to suspend the grant. If so, they will need to alert SASSA for assessment,” Van Vrede said.