THE South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), in collaboration with registered Credit Bureaus, has identified 210 000 social grant beneficiaries who appear to be receiving income that was not disclosed to the agency. As a result, this month’s grant payments will be delayed for some of the affected beneficiaries.

Sassa said according to the Social Assistance Act and its regulations, beneficiaries are legally required to fully disclose all sources of income during their initial application.

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Beneficiaries are also obligated to inform Sassa of any changes to their financial circumstances after their application has been approved.

Spokesperson for Sassa Paseka Letsatsi said failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a violation of the Act and may result in corrective action.

“As part of this initiative, social grant payments for the affected beneficiaries will be delayed in the June 2025 payment cycle. These individuals are required to present themselves at their nearest Sassa local offices for a grant review within 30 days from this notice date, in line with Regulation 30 of the Social Assistance Act. Beneficiaries who fail to comply with this process risk having their grants suspended. Continued non-compliance may lead to the permanent lapsing of their grants,” said Letsatsi.

Letsatsi said the initiative is aimed at ensuring that beneficiaries confirm any changes in their financial circumstances and update their personal details.

“It also seeks to address potential inclusion errors in the current social security system. A beneficiary may have qualified for a grant at the time of application, but improved material conditions over time may render them ineligible,” said Letsatsi.

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For further details on the Sassa social grant fraud cases, click here.

Sassa has encouraged all beneficiaries to disclose any alternative sources of income and to report any additional bank accounts not previously declared.

Those beneficiaries still using the green bar-coded ID book are urged to replace it with the smart ID card, due to the increased risk of fraud associated with the older ID format.

“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 added.

For more information on grant reviews, clients are urged to contact the Sassa toll-free customer care line on 0800 60 1011 or GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za.

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