The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has urged social grant beneficiaries to respond to a 30-day notice requiring them to visit the agency’s offices for a grant review, warning that failure to comply could result in grants being suspended or terminated.

The process of reviewing grants is aims to ensure grants are received by beneficiaries who legally qualify for it.

According to SASSA, beneficiaries are formally notified before any grant is cancelled or allowed to lapse, in accordance with the regulations governing the administration of social assistance.

“In terms of Sub-regulation 32(2), a notice of suspension or cancellation must be delivered to the beneficiary or their appointed procurator through electronic communication or other means.

“Meanwhile, Sub-regulation 32(4) requires the agency to investigate and verify all facts and circumstances surrounding the social assistance before taking a decision to suspend or cancel a grant,” the agency said.

In Mpumalanga, the agency’s third-quarter progress report showed that 12 151 beneficiaries were notified to visit SASSA offices for grant reviews. Of these, 2 303 grants were reviewed, while 221 grants lapsed after beneficiaries failed to respond to the notice.

The agency explained that the review process is intended to ensure that only qualifying beneficiaries continue receiving social grants.

“The agency understands that many South Africans depend on social grants, but this does not mean that grants should be received fraudulently,” SASSA said.

Beneficiaries who are unable to visit SASSA offices themselves may appoint a procurator to conduct the review on their behalf, provided the required documentation and procedures are followed.

For more information, beneficiaries can contact SASSA’s toll-free number 0800 60 10 11 during office hours from Monday to Friday. 

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