SASSA battles budget pressure as National Treasury demands strict verification of social grants across South Africa

At a time when every cent counts for vulnerable South Africans, the country’s social grants system is facing intense scrutiny.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Treasury are at odds—again.

And the man in the hot seat is SASSA’s new CEO, Themba Matlou, who’s only two months into his permanent role but already fielding tough questions from Parliament.

Parliament Grills SASSA Boss Over Grant Spending

Matlou was recently hauled before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development, where he had to explain how SASSA plans to meet strict new spending conditions attached to its R265 billion budget.

The tension is high—especially after a January 2025 High Court ruling found SASSA’s grant system to be “deliberately exclusionary.”

Now, Treasury is demanding proof that the agency is doing the opposite: reducing overspending by cutting off ineligible recipients.

So, Matlou finds himself trying to walk a tightrope—comply with Treasury’s cost-saving conditions while not falling afoul of civil rights groups pushing for broader access to grants.

New Verification Measures Make Life Harder for the Vulnerable

As part of the agreement with Treasury, SASSA must overhaul its verification process.

That includes doing regular checks on beneficiaries’ income, rolling out biometric ID verification, and linking with other government databases like SARS and NSFAS.

But here’s the problem: many of the people who rely on grants—especially older citizens and those living in rural areas—don’t have smartphones or access to mobile data.

Monthly verification checks can become a nightmare if you’re traveling long distances just to prove you’re still poor enough to qualify.

Quarterly Reporting Deadline Looms Large

SASSA is also expected to submit a detailed quarterly report to Treasury by the end of July.

That report must show exactly how many grants have been reviewed, suspended, or cancelled—and how much money that’s saved the government. So, these changes are already underway.

Some grants, including Child Support, Old-Age, and Disability allowances, have already been flagged for issues like undisclosed income or missing documents.

In these cases, the agency has started suspending payments until individuals can verify their identities in person.

Pushback From Public, but SASSA Holds Its Line

The backlash has been swift. Critics say this new system unfairly targets the most vulnerable.

But Matlou says the public needs to understand the bigger picture.

“We need beneficiaries to take some responsibility,” he told Parliament.

“If your financial situation changes, you have to tell SASSA. It helps us allocate money better.”

He also acknowledged the inconvenience, especially for those without the means to keep up with digital verification.

That’s why SASSA says it’s planning to introduce new service kiosks at local offices that will allow people to verify their identities remotely using biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition.

What Comes Next for SASSA and Treasury?

Looking ahead, SASSA wants to make biometric checks a standard requirement for all social grant applications—regardless of whether someone has formal ID documents or not.

That could streamline the process but also risks shutting more people out if not managed carefully.

So now, the spotlight is firmly on both SASSA and the National Treasury.

Will they find a way to balance tight budgets with the needs of ordinary South Africans? Or will stricter controls mean more people falling through the cracks?