SASSA says its intensified social grant review process is saving the government about R44m a month, amounting to about R0.5b annually.
The savings form part of a broader effort to tighten controls and ensure that social assistance reaches only eligible beneficiaries.
Providing an update during a media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said the review process, introduced at the start of the 2025/ 26 financial year, aims to strengthen the effectiveness, reliability and integrity of the social assistance system in a constrained fiscal environment.
“The social grant review process is an important step not only to safeguard the integrity of the social assistance programme, but also to ensure that public funds are directed to those who need them most, including reducing the level of fraud and misuse of public funds,” Matlou said.
The agency said the process is closely monitored by the National Treasury, which has set conditions to accelerate its implementation. These include income verification, biometric checks, inter-agency data cross-referencing and quarterly reporting obligations.
According to SASSA, the measures are designed to enhance service delivery, improve operational efficiency and ensure the cost-effective administration of social assistance.
“We appreciate the cooperation of all affected beneficiaries who understood this process and came forward to review their social grants,” Matlou said.
Progress on reviews
SASSA plans to undertake 420 000 grant reviews during the current financial year. By the third quarter, just under 400 000 beneficiaries had been notified to present themselves for review.
To date, about 240 000 grants have been reviewed, while about 70 000 grants were suspended after beneficiaries failed to complete the review process.
The agency emphasised that the reviews are conducted in line with Regulation 30 and Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act, 2004. These provisions require SASSA to regularly confirm beneficiaries’ continued eligibility, while beneficiaries are legally obliged to report any material changes in their circumstances, including financial or marital status.
Modernising the system
As part of efforts to modernise the system and reduce pressure on local offices, SASSA has rolled out compulsory biometric enrolment for all new grant applications. It has also implemented life certification for identified beneficiaries and introduced a self-service portal that allows beneficiaries to complete life certification remotely through e-Life Certification.
“Going forward, SASSA will progressively make the social grant review process available through self-service platforms to improve accessibility, efficiency and convenience for beneficiaries,” Matlou said.
Strengthening verification
The agency has also strengthened partnerships with credit bureaus, banks, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other institutions to enhance income verification and detect irregular grant access.
Through data matching with SARS, SASSA identified 495 296 clients who appear to be ineligible for grants, with verification already underway. A further 162 574 clients were identified through income verification testing with NSFAS and other entities, while 291 581 individuals were flagged across various government payroll systems.
“Beneficiaries identified through this process are required to present themselves for review and disclosure. Failure to comply may result in grant suspension,” Matlou said.
SASSA also acknowledged challenges linked to beneficiaries not updating their contact details, which can result in missed review notifications. To address this, the agency introduced a fourth payment date in the monthly payment cycle to prompt beneficiaries to contact SASSA if payment is not received during the first three payment days.
Consequences for non-compliance
The agency stressed that grant reviews and life certification are critical to preventing payments to deceased or ineligible beneficiaries, detecting fraud, protecting public funds and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the social assistance system.
Beneficiaries who fail to comply with review or life certification requirements may have their grants suspended, with continued non-compliance potentially resulting in grants lapsing.
SASSA reiterated that it remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of beneficiaries.
“No grant is cancelled solely based on checks. Beneficiaries are notified that they are under review, and it is only if they fail to conduct the review within the legislated time period that their grant will be suspended and eventually lapse,” Matlou said.
The agency said it has increased capacity at local offices to manage the expected influx of beneficiaries as it continues to scale up efforts to ensure social assistance reaches those who need it most.
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