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South Africa’s Social Grants Are Changing, What SASSA Beneficiaries Need to Know Before October 2025
If you rely on a SASSA grant, chances are you’ve heard a lot of worrying and confusing, news lately. First, there was panic over a major service contract being cancelled. Then came the announcement that social grant amounts will increase in October 2025.
So… are payments safe or not? And will that extra R10 make any real difference?
Let’s unpack what’s actually going on, without the legal jargon.
Will SASSA Grants Still Be Paid?
Yes. SASSA has confirmed that all grants will continue as normal, even though its contract with Postbank has officially been terminated.
Here’s what happened:
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SASSA cancelled its Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Postbank.
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Postbank rushed to court to stop the termination.
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The North Gauteng High Court dismissed Postbank’s application, saying the matter was not urgent and that Postbank had seen this coming.
Despite the fallout, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou gave assurance that no beneficiary will lose their grant, even if they use Postbank accounts. Under the Social Assistance Act, recipients have the legal right to receive payment into any bank account of their choice.
However, Postbank is not happy, its CEO Nikki Mbengashe warned that without further intervention, beneficiaries’ constitutional rights might be at risk by September 2025.
Translation? It’s stable for now, but tensions between SASSA and Postbank are far from over.
R10 Increase Coming in October 2025
In better news, all social grants will go up by R10 per month starting 1 October 2025.
Here’s what that looks like:
| Grant Type | Current Amount | New Amount (Oct 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age Grant (Under 75) | R2 310 | R2 320 |
| Old Age Grant (75+) | R2 330 | R2 340 |
| War Veterans Grant | R2 330 | R2 340 |
| Disability Grant | R2 310 | R2 320 |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2 310 | R2 320 |
While R10 won’t fill a grocery basket, it does signal that government is still adjusting grants upward, even if slowly, in line with the national budget framework.
Grant Payment Dates for October 2025
SASSA says its systems are ready and payments will roll out on the usual schedule:
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Old Age Grants: 2 October 2025
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Disability Grants: 3 October 2025
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Children’s Grants: 6 October 2025
How Beneficiaries Are Feeling
South Africans are reacting with a mix of relief and frustration.
“We are happy payments won’t stop, but what’s R10 in this economy?” Facebook comment
“This Postbank fight better not cause another payout disaster like last year.” Twitter user @GrantWatcher
Many still remember past technical glitches that left pensioners sleeping outside ATMs or going home empty-handed. The fear is not about legal rights, it’s about whether the money will physically reflect on time.
What You Should Do Now
To stay safe through the transition:
✅ Check your bank details, Whether you use Postbank or another bank, ensure your account is active.
✅ Expect the R10 increase in October and verify it.
✅ Know your payment date to avoid queues and overcrowding.
✅ Report problems immediately via SASSA offices or call centres.
Stability for Now, But Stay Alert
Grant recipients can breathe, payments are safe for the foreseeable future. But with Postbank hinting at further legal action, the fight behind the scenes isn’t over.
For now, October 2025 brings a small increase and a big reminder that even R10 matters when survival hangs on every rand.
As one social media user put it:
“It’s not enough, but at least it’s something. Just make sure we get it on time.”
And that’s really the heart of it. South Africans don’t want promises, they want reliability.
{Source: IOL}
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