Gauteng SASSA alarmed by unauthorised deductions from social grants

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Gauteng said it is alarmed by allegations of misleading practices resulting in unauthorised deductions from social grants.

The agency said some beneficiaries may have been tricked into signing documents linked to insurance or funeral policies without full knowledge or consent.

SASSA stresses that it does not work with any companies to enrol beneficiaries into financial products and said any deductions must be lawful, transparent and authorised.

By law, only one deduction of up to 10% is permitted for a funeral policy, while child-related grants must not have any deductions.

Beneficiaries are urged to report any suspicious or unexplained deductions and to exercise caution before signing any documents.

“SASSA in Gauteng remains committed to protecting beneficiaries from fraud, misinformation, and unethical practices. Ongoing awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagements are being intensified to educate beneficiaries on their rights and to prevent exploitation.

“Members of the public are further advised that SASSA operates from established and recognised offices across Gauteng and does not deploy officials to conduct door-to-door,” said SASSA Gauteng spokesperson Lungelo Mkamba.