The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has suspended payments to over 210,000 social grant beneficiaries as part of a sweeping crackdown on grant fraud and non-disclosure of income.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sassa revealed that thousands of recipients were flagged during recent credit bureau screenings, which revealed possible undisclosed sources of income. The agency is acting in terms of the Social Assistance Act, which requires all grant applicants to declare their full income and to report any financial changes after approval.
“Failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a violation of the Act and may result in corrective action,” Sassa warned.
No Payment for June
The flagged beneficiaries will not receive grant payments during the June payment cycle, which begins on Tuesday, 3 June. They have been given 30 days to visit their nearest Sassa office to undergo a full grant review.
Read | SASSA Payment Dates for 2025: Full Grant Schedule for All Beneficiaries
“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 the agency.
Sassa has urged all grant recipients to disclose any alternative income sources or undeclared bank accounts. Additionally, those still using green bar-coded ID books are being urged to upgrade to smart ID cards, citing increased fraud risks associated with the outdated format.
New Treasury Conditions in Effect
This crackdown follows new conditions introduced by the National Treasury for improved grant management. These include monthly income checks through bank data and government databases, a move aimed at curbing systemic fraud and misuse of public funds.
Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi confirmed that the agency has already begun implementing these Treasury-mandated checks and will continue to roll them out in phases.
“We are balancing these checks with available resources across our local offices nationwide,” Letsatsi said.
Expanded Cross-Checks and Biometric Measures
According to a recent parliamentary briefing, the new screening measures will apply across all major social grants — not just the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant but also child support, old age, disability, and care dependency grants.
In addition to financial checks, Sassa has introduced biometric verification for grant beneficiaries who do not have standard South African ID numbers. These biometric checks, launched earlier this month, are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
As Sassa tightens its systems, the agency is encouraging honest disclosure and cooperation from beneficiaries — warning that non-compliance will carry serious consequences, including the permanent loss of grant support.