The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has introduced a new identity verification process to ensure that only eligible citizens receive social grants. However, this update has caused payment delays and suspensions for some beneficiaries.
According to Sassa, the review targets beneficiaries whose ID numbers don’t appear on its system, those with multiple bank accounts, and individuals flagged during a means test — a process that identifies people who may have undisclosed income in alternative bank accounts. Affected beneficiaries will not receive payments until their details are verified.
Those who haven’t received their grants must visit their nearest Sassa office to verify their identity and have their 13-digit ID number captured. Failure to do so could result in the grant lapsing permanently.
Sassa explained that these measures aim to prevent fraud, protect the integrity of the system, and ensure that only those who still meet the financial and eligibility criteria benefit from the grants.