The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has uncovered a massive case of grant fraud, identifying over 210,000 dishonest beneficiaries who failed to declare accurate personal and financial information.
This revelation comes as SASSA ramps up its fraud detection and compliance efforts. The agency confirmed that these beneficiaries were flagged after joint investigations with registered Credit Bureaus, exposing multiple inconsistencies in declared income and hidden bank accounts.
June 2025 Payments Delayed for Flagged Individuals
As a direct result, payments for the affected individuals in the June 2025 grant cycle will be temporarily delayed. These beneficiaries will now be subject to a mandatory review process within 30 days.
Failure to respond or correct information during this period will lead to immediate suspension of the grant.
SASSA Issues a Firm Warning
SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said the agency is taking fraud extremely seriously. He cautioned all beneficiaries to be honest in their declarations, especially when it comes to other sources of income and additional bank accounts.
“If anyone is found to have misled the system or defrauded SASSA, they will face legal action,” Letsatsi warned.
This signals a turning point in SASSA’s approach — one focused on accountability and protecting public resources.
What Beneficiaries Must Do
If you are among those flagged, you need to:
- Report to SASSA within 30 days from the notice
- Correct or update your personal and financial information
- Disclose any additional income or bank accounts
- Prepare for possible interviews or document requests during the review
This process is critical to ensuring your grant is reinstated in future payment cycles.
Public Encouraged to Stay Transparent
SASSA is calling on all grant recipients to remain transparent. Any updates to income, employment status, or banking details should be reported immediately to avoid being flagged during upcoming verification checks.
Letsatsi stressed that non-compliance, even unintentionally, may lead to payment delays, suspension, or even criminal charges.
Part of Larger Reform Measures
This mass identification of dishonest beneficiaries follows recent announcements by SASSA to implement monthly income checks, biometric verification, and inter-agency database sharing. These changes are part of efforts to eliminate fraud and ensure social grants reach only those who truly qualify.
