Minister Dina Pule vows to end long SASSA queues and restore dignity to beneficiaries

Newly appointed Social Development Minister Dina Pule has pledged to tackle long queues at South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices and to restore dignity to grant beneficiaries, announcing reviews, digital updates and the recruitment of more than 1 000 contract workers.

Assurance to beneficiaries

Pule made the announcement at a media briefing held at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on 21 July 2026. She said she wanted to speak directly to the millions of South Africans who depend on social grants to assure them that the department has listened to recent complaints about long queues.

Grants described as a lifeline

“Social grants are not merely payments; they are a lifeline to remove poverty from many households, the vulnerable, the child who depends on a grant, the grandmother who holds a household together, and the young person searching for dignity and work,”

The minister added that grants help keep lights on in households, support persons with disabilities and bring stability to families facing difficult circumstances.

Review programme and fraud prevention

Pule said Sassa launched a review process in 2025 to confirm continued eligibility and that reviews ensure changes in financial, medical, marital or personal circumstances are reflected and the system is protected against fraud, abuse and incorrect payments.

The data verification and validation process flagged over 420 000 grants for review in 2025/26, with over 240 000 reviews completed and about 160 000 failed. For 2026/27, Sassa is targeting over 350 000 reviews.

Pule said Sassa’s biometric verification programme now interfaces with the Department of Home Affairs in real time, strengthening identity authentication for new applications and reviews. She said this technology has helped prevent identity theft, duplicate claims and other forms of fraud, and that more people are being arrested for committing fraud in the grant system.

The agency is also continuing its anti-fraud work through e-Life Certification, which allows beneficiaries to verify their existence and eligibility through secure digital processes.

Digital improvements and extra staff

Pule said Sassa is committed to using digital channels to make services more accessible and safe. The agency has launched a modernisation programme that includes online platforms such as WhatsApp and a mobile app for grant applications.

To add capacity at offices and reduce waiting times, Sassa is recruiting more than 1 000 contract workers for frontline support and processing. The agency is also adding extended office hours and offering home visits for clients over 75 and frail people.

Monitoring and next steps

Pule said the department will continue improving the systems through which grants are delivered and that she will be visiting some Sassa offices in the next few days across provinces to monitor implementation of these interventions.