South African Social Security Agency

/ 11 October 2024

Top cop ‘didn’t act against eviction’ by fraudster Howard Mashaba

The provincial police commissioner is the latest to be implicated in the fraudster’s contentious new hotel

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By Khaya Koko

National

/ 14 September 2023

Mondli Gungubele says Postbank mass resignation was to avoid accountability for unlawful contract

The minister has been accused by the Postbank board of being treated with hostility, undermined and disrespected

By Eunice Masson

Opinion

/ 14 June 2023

Social development budget is not fit for purpose

The under-investment in cash transfers and caring services by the government suggests that many may well fall still further behind

By Lisa Vetten and Thokozile Madonko

National

/ 21 March 2023

How Sars was ‘defrauded’ of R13.9 million by Chetty ‘crime’ family

The son allegedly declared zero income in 2021 despite raking in R29 million in state contracts

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By Khaya Koko

Business

/ 22 February 2023

Godongwana: Basic income grant decisions won’t be made because of political pressure

The social development department has been allocated R35.7 billion to fund the extended social relief of distress grant

By Sarah Smit

National

/ 19 November 2022

Sassa pensioners allegedly assisted ‘corrupt’ Chetty family to defraud SAPS

Salamina Khoza and Sarathamoney Sigamoney are accused of fronting for companies that received nearly R150m in ‘fraudulent’ police contracts

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By Khaya Koko

Business

/ 15 November 2022

Postbank’s irregular spending rises by R118 million

Poor leadership and accountability hindered the entity from developing proper procedures to deal with those responsible for mismanagement and fraud

By Mandisa Ndlovu

National

/ 1 September 2022

Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke: State response to KZN floods too slow

Of the 4 983 households affected by the floods only 1 197 have been assessed and the majority are still living in mass-relief shelters

By Sonri Naidoo

Business

/ 25 August 2022

OECD: How South Africa can afford the R350 grant permanently

In its economic survey, the OECD recommends increasing VAT or broadening the base of corporate and personal income taxes to pay for the grant

By Sarah Smit

National

/ 1 February 2022

Sassa boss linked to R45.5m fraud

A company implicated in the Special Investigating Unit report is still doing business with the South African Social Security Agency

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By Khaya Koko

National

/ 18 January 2022

Five-year drama over Sassa cleaning deal

Welfare agency allegedly bent procurement process to suit a contractor previously found guilty of collusion, and preferred bidder Corporate Cleaning wants damages paid

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By Paddy Harper

Business

/ 7 October 2021

SA one of the biggest spenders on social assistance globally — World Bank

Social grants are by far the largest facet of South Africa’s social protection system in terms of the number of people covered, according to the World Bank

By Anathi Madubela

Politics

/ 30 September 2021

‘Evasive’ and ‘reckless’ Dlamini due back in court in perjury case

The former minister of social development is alleged to have lied under oath

By Chris Gilili

National

/ 4 August 2021

How to apply for the Covid-19 R350 grant

Asylum seekers with valid permits and caregivers will now also be allowed to apply for the reinstituted social relief of distress grant

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By Chris Gilili

Business

/ 27 July 2021

R350 relief grant will be paid into bank accounts or via cash-send services

There are concerns that post office branch closures will make it difficult for beneficiaries to access the grant

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By Sarah Smit

Health

/ 5 July 2021

The social development department is discussing vaccinating ECD, Sassa workers in current phase

Minister Lindiwe Zulu made wide-ranging announcements on Friday, including how early childhood development centres should operate under level-four lockdown

By Charma du Plessis

National

/ 19 June 2021

Bloated Sassa to make staff cuts

The social security agency has ‘lost’ R2-billion on unnecessary salaries and through wasteful expenditure

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By Khaya Koko

National

/ 25 May 2021

Renewed calls for South Africa to have a basic income grant

Human rights organisations are advocating a state safety net for the millions of South Africans who have been left hungry after the R350 social relief of distress grant was discontinued on 30 April

By Nation Nyoka

National

/ 22 May 2021

Sassa chief executive ignores R45m jobs-for-pals claim

Totsie Memela-Khambula has known about allegations of a nepotistic tender for months but taken no action

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By Khaya Koko

National

/ 6 May 2021

Ipid report clears cops of misconduct for use of water cannon on Sassa crowd

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate found no misconduct was committed by police who used a water cannon on a crowd outside the Sassa office in Bellville, Cape Town

By Eunice Masson

National

/ 1 April 2021

ConCourt orders CPS to file all records relating to its illicit profits

The court has given Cash Paymaster Services 15 days to provide all documents that will allow the treasury to calculate the sum it needs to refund the social security agency

By Emsie Ferreira

Coronavirus

/ 23 March 2021

New Covid-19 grant, old Sassa problems

A sharp increase in the number of social grant recipients after the introduction of the special grant during the pandemic has exacerbated the strained grant payment system

By Bonile Bam

Coronavirus

/ 7 February 2021

R350 a month: Inside the lives of special grant recipients

The Covid-19 relief grant helped millions of South Africans, but it ended in January. The M&G spoke to unemployed youth who found the money helpful

By Tshegofatso Mathe

Opinion

/ 9 September 2020

Pillar to post office

If President Cyril Ramaphosa’s crackdown on corruption is to succeed, new rules for lobbying and tenders need to be implemented

By Solomon Makgale

National

/ 2 September 2020

Auditor general points to the state’s flaws enabling Covid-19 graft

AG Kimi Makwetu’s ‘real-time’ audit of contracts and relief schemes indicate ‘a higher risk of fraud and abuse of funds’

By Lester Kiewit

Business

/ 13 July 2020

Basic income grant on the cards as Covid-19 threat intensifies

The pandemic has triggered a global economic crisis that will leave many South Africans without income security

By Sarah Smit

Coronavirus

/ 2 July 2020

Sassa disses disability grant applicants

Towards the end of level four of the lockdown, Sassa offices reopened for applications for old age pensions and childcare and foster care grants, but not for disability grants

By Paddy Harper

Business

/ 27 May 2020

What happened to the Covid-19 special grant?

The newly established grant intended to bring informal economy workers into South Africa’s social security net during the lockdown has had a disastrous start

By Dennis Webster

Article

/ 29 April 2020

Sassa system ignores digital divide

Sassa is keen to try out online registration to process applications for the Covid-19 relief grant, but NGOs are wary because not all intended beneficiaries are able to access data

By Sabelo Skiti

Analysis

/ 23 April 2020

Hunger is as big a threat as Covid

For the many that rely on pension grants, Sassa’s seemingly simple date change has severe ramifications

By The Pietermaritzburg Pensioners Forum

Article

/ 23 April 2020

Covid-19 grant top-up is for caregivers, not children

Sassa says grants to an extra six million people who lose jobs, on top of 18-million beneficiaries, means it can’t give as much to child support grants

By Thando Maeko and Tshegofatso Mathe