- The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is pulling out all the stops to assist beneficiaries who are currently undergoing a review process.
- SASSA CEO Themba Matlou has urged SASSA’s staff, including executives and senior managers, to make sure beneficiaries are not severely inconvenienced during the social grants review.
- Matlou emphasised the importance of the reviews, saying they are the best tool to safeguard the government fiscus, and ensuring that social grants are paid to eligible beneficiaries.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Chief Executive Officer, Themba Matlou, has called for an all-hands-on-deck approach from executives and senior managers across the nine regions to help beneficiaries who have been identified for review in the August payment cycle.
This comes as CEO Matlou tries to enhance operations at local offices in efforts to ensure beneficiaries are not severely inconvenienced when they present themselves for social grants review in the coming few days.
“We are intent on assisting all our clients to have their grants reviewed as seamlessly as possible so that no one leaves our offices without being assisted and being burdened with back and forth,” Matlou says.
“It is for this reason that we want everyone, especially at the senior level, to get their hands dirty and be on the ground to assist our important clients.”
Showing empathy towards social grants beneficiaries who bear the brunt of long queues, Matlou says he expects even officials in the upper echelons of the agency to play an active role and ensure timely support for those who may need assistance.
He has asked the executives and senior managers to be visible to clients throughout the payment period and beyond, ensuring enquiries regarding the payment date on the 4th are addressed promptly and professionally.
“The ongoing social grants reviews have put a spotlight on us as an organisation and tested our capacity to handle the inflow to our local offices, and we are addressing some of the challenges that we have picked up in the last few months.
“While the majority of payments will proceed without any hindrance, we want to ensure that we leave no room for tardiness at the expense of the vulnerable”, he stressed.
Matlou reiterated the importance of social grant reviews, saying they are the best tool to safeguard the government’s fiscus, ensuring that social grants are paid to the eligible beneficiaries while strengthening the integrity of the system and curbing fraudulent activities internally and externally.
He also urged all SASSA beneficiaries to not be alarmed and heed the call to have their grants reviewed so that their personal details can also be updated for ease of communication going forward.
Beneficiaries who have been affected by the grants review are encouraged to visit their nearest SASSA Local Office and bring the following documents:
• Valid South African ID (13-digit barcoded ID or smart ID card);
• Proof of income (e.g. payslips, pension slips, or affidavits if no longer employed or employment discharge confirmations);
• Bank statements (last three months) for all active bank accounts;
• Proof of residence (e.g. utility bill or letter from a local authority);
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable);
• Death certificate (if a death has occurred, for example, of a child, spouse, and so on); and
• Any other supporting documents relevant to your grant type (e.g. birth certificates for Child Support Grants, or school attendance proof for Foster Care Grants).
For more information, beneficiaries can visit www.sassa.gov.za, call the toll-free number on 0800 60 10 11, or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
