The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has warned social grant beneficiaries that failure to comply with the current review process could lead to the suspension and possible permanent termination of their grants.
SASSA Chief Executive Officer, Busisiwe Matlou, said during a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday that beneficiaries who continue to ignore the review requests may also be liable to repay funds received in error.
“Continued non-compliance may lead to the permanent lapsing of their grants. Beneficiaries are advised that SASSA is also empowered by the Act to recoup any money that would have been paid to the beneficiary incorrectly. This means that, should we find out that you have been receiving social grants that you were not eligible to receive, SASSA will institute a debt recovery process where you will have to pay back the money,” Matlou said.
More than 140,000 SMS notifications have already been sent to beneficiaries selected for review. However, the response has been limited. Matlou said this may be due to beneficiaries changing their contact details without informing SASSA.
She noted that although the agency had communicated the review process through various media platforms and public announcements, some people may have missed the message.
“SASSA has in previous years noticed that many beneficiaries do not update their contact details with SASSA and consequently do not receive the notices for them to come in to conduct a review. We have sent out bulk SMS messages and registered letters to the addresses we have in our possession,” she said.
SASSA is now working to improve its communication strategies, including increasing visibility through community-level engagement and public platforms. The agency also plans to extend operating hours and employ additional staff to reduce long queues at local offices during the review period.
To ease the process further, SASSA is developing an online self-service platform that will allow beneficiaries to complete their reviews digitally.
Beneficiaries who have not received their payments, or are unsure of their payment status, are encouraged to contact SASSA via the toll-free number 0800 60 10 11 or visit the website at www.sassa.gov.za.
Matlou explained that SASSA’s review efforts are also in line with strict budget conditions set by the National Treasury. In February 2025, the Treasury issued a preliminary allocation letter for the 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which outlined binding compliance requirements for SASSA.
“These conditions direct SASSA to find mechanisms to save costs through its review process to ensure money is not paid to those undeserving beneficiaries. The aim is to enhance fiscal accountability, improve operational efficiency, and ensure the integrity of the Social Assistance Programme,” Matlou said.
The measures include income verification, biometric checks, inter-agency data cross-referencing, and quarterly reporting obligations. Matlou said these are part of broader efforts by the Treasury to increase oversight and promote transparency in the administration of social grants.
She reiterated SASSA’s commitment to serving the public with transparency and fairness.
“We take our responsibility seriously to serve the most vulnerable in our society and will work harder to ensure that no beneficiary is left confused or disadvantaged. SASSA remains committed to protecting the right and dignity of each beneficiary by ensuring that no one who qualifies is unfairly penalized.”
SASSA is also finalising the implementation of biometric identification systems to improve security and enhance the integrity of grant administration.
Matlou stressed that the agency enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud and corruption, whether from beneficiaries or within SASSA itself.