Masango Warns Sassa Verifications Must Not Hurt Deserving Beneficiaries

Masango says Sassa’s anti-fraud verification processes should not negatively affect deserving beneficiaries who rely on social grants.

Viable News Team May 25, 2026 2 minutes read

Concerns are growing over the impact of verification processes at the South African Social Security Agency, with calls for authorities to ensure that anti-fraud measures do not unfairly affect vulnerable grant recipients.

Masango has warned that while efforts to combat fraud within the social grants system are necessary, they should not come at the expense of deserving beneficiaries who rely on monthly support for survival.

The comments come amid ongoing screening and verification exercises aimed at identifying fraudulent claims and irregular grant payments. In recent years, Sassa has intensified checks on beneficiaries as part of broader government efforts to improve accountability and prevent abuse of the social assistance system.

However, concerns have repeatedly been raised about delays, payment suspensions, and administrative challenges experienced by legitimate beneficiaries during these processes. Advocacy groups and community organisations have also warned that vulnerable citizens, particularly the elderly and unemployed, are often left struggling while attempting to resolve verification issues.

Masango stressed that authorities need to strike a balance between safeguarding public funds and protecting people who genuinely qualify for assistance. According to the latest government figures, millions of South Africans depend on social grants, including old-age pensions, child support grants, and the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

The issue of grant fraud has remained a major focus for government departments and oversight bodies, especially following reports of irregular payments and identity-related scams affecting the system. Officials argue that stricter verification measures are necessary to maintain the integrity and sustainability of social welfare programmes.

At the same time, civil society groups continue to push for faster resolution processes and better communication with affected beneficiaries. Many argue that delays in restoring grants can have devastating consequences for households already facing economic hardship.

Sassa has previously stated that verification exercises are conducted to ensure grants reach the correct recipients and that beneficiaries are encouraged to keep their information updated to avoid disruptions.