SASSA Spends R267 Billion on Social Grants in 2024/2025, Reaching Millions of South Africans

R267 Billion Spent to Lift Millions from Poverty

In a bold move to support the country’s most vulnerable, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) spent a total of R267 billion on social grants in the 2024/2025 financial year. The figures, presented to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development, reveal a government determined to put food on the tables of millions while protecting the dignity of children, the elderly, and other needy citizens.

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe praised SASSA and its partner, the National Development Agency (NDA), for stabilising leadership and improving service delivery, calling the past year a period of “turning the tide and improving the performance of the sector.”

“We have worked hard to enhance services to the needy, ensuring that millions of households receive the support they need,” Tolashe said.

Social Relief Grants Reach Over 9 Million

The bulk of SASSA’s spending included the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which benefited over 9 million South Africans. Beyond the SRD grants, traditional social grants also grew slightly, from 19.1 million beneficiaries in March 2024 to 19.2 million in March 2025, reflecting steady efforts to expand social protection even amid economic challenges.

Minister Tolashe highlighted the remarkable reach of the social assistance programme:

• Over 28 million eligible individuals received support

• 13.1 million children benefited from the Child Support Grant

• 4.1 million older persons received the Old Age Grant

“These milestones are a direct result of stabilising leadership, filling critical vacancies, and ensuring our core mandate of social protection is delivered effectively,” Tolashe said.

Fighting Fraud and Strengthening Accountability

Despite these successes, challenges persist. SASSA Acting CEO Brenton Van Vrede reported that tackling fraud remained a priority. Over 483 reported cases of fraud and corruption were investigated, with 478 cases finalised, including:

• Arrest of eight officials in Gauteng for fraud

• Discovery of money lenders in possession of SASSA cards

• Exposure of officials colluding to generate fraudulent grants in Mpumalanga

The agency also processed 1.8 million grant applications, exceeding its target of 1.6 million, and achieved 98% efficiency in handling Covid-19 SRD applications.

“We remain committed to ensuring that no one is left behind,” Minister Tolashe reaffirmed. “Our fight against child and adult poverty continues now and into the future.”

Reaching Communities and Improving Service

Minister Tolashe acknowledged that improving customer experience remains a critical focus. Through the Integrated Community Outreach Programme, SASSA is actively engaging with communities to better understand their needs and respond to complaints about service delivery.

“I have travelled across the country and listened to both customers and frontline employees,” Tolashe said. “These voices guide the operational changes needed to improve service.”

The Minister and SASSA leadership emphasised that while progress has been made, maintaining transparency, efficiency, and dignity for beneficiaries will remain a cornerstone of their work in 2025 and beyond.

South Africans on social media praised the efforts, especially the support to children and the elderly, while some highlighted ongoing frustrations with bureaucratic delays in certain regions. The conversation underscores the challenge of balancing scale with quality in one of the country’s largest social protection programmes.

{Source: IOL}

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