Parliament demands tighter controls after SASSA paid grants to deceased and government workers

Parliament has called for urgent reforms at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) after an Auditor‑General briefing on the 2025/26 audit outcomes found weaknesses in the grant payment system that have allowed public funds to be paid to deceased beneficiaries and to people employed by government.

Audit flagged persistent system weaknesses

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development raised concerns following the Auditor‑General of South Africa’s assessment of the Department of Social Development and its entities for 2025/26. The department received a qualified audit opinion, and the committee warned that persistent weaknesses in SASSA’s payment system were contributing to financial leakages and exposing public funds to wastage.

Payments to ineligible recipients

Among the problems identified in the audit were grant payments made to dead beneficiaries and to people employed by government. The committee said these findings raised serious questions about the effectiveness of SASSA’s controls and verification mechanisms to ensure social grants are paid only to eligible beneficiaries.

Committee response and warnings

“A qualified audit opinion is not an outcome that the committee can accept as business as usual. We are concerned that weaknesses in the system continue to expose public funds to wastage, particularly where payments are made to people who are no longer eligible to receive social grants,”

The Portfolio Committee chairperson, Bridget Masango, said urgent intervention was required to strengthen the integrity of the social grant system. She warned that money lost because of weaknesses in the system reduced the resources available to people who depend on government assistance.

“Every rand lost through weaknesses in the system is a rand that could otherwise be directed towards supporting vulnerable South Africans. The department and SASSA must strengthen their verification and control systems to ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are intended,”

Demands and next steps

The committee has demanded that the Department of Social Development and SASSA implement effective corrective measures in response to the shortcomings identified by the Auditor‑General. It said stronger internal controls were necessary to prevent improper payments and protect public funds, and expects both entities to address the weaknesses identified and improve beneficiary verification systems.

Scope of concern

The committee framed the issue as more than a routine audit matter given the department’s responsibility for administering social protection programmes and safeguarding public money, and it has called for measures to stop grant payments flowing to ineligible recipients.