Tolashe again appeals to those affected by grant payment review to comply
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is currently trying to reach 140,000 people to verify themselves in person.
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe presented the budget of the department before a mini-plenary of the National Assembly on 10 July 2025. Picture: Zwelethemba Kostile/ParliamentRSA
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe has made another appeal to those affected by a grant payment review to comply, despite the hardships many are enduring to do so.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is currently trying to reach 140,000 people to verify themselves in person.
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Tolashe said the department has no choice but to comply with the Auditor General’s recommendations and the conditions set by Treasury to close the fraud loopholes or face having its budget cut.
Tolashe has reiterated that no grants will be cancelled during this review, and any monies withheld will be paid once the beneficiary’s eligibility has been confirmed.
“We are hard at work, once again, to make sure we employ all the systems that are put in place for us to deal with these atrocities, but I want to once again emphasise that SASSA does not stop anybody’s grant without due process. That’s why we are emphasising, anyone who has been called upon to appear in a SASSA office should be assisted to make sure he or she does that.”
Tolashe said SASSA can prevent fraud of up to a billion rand a year if it gets its house in order.
“SASSA, for the longest time, is paying the wrong recipients to the extent of paying civil servants who are in the payroll of other systems, and in making sure that we deal with this matter, we are trying to avoid that.”