South Africa’s rising cost of living continues to put pressure on household finances, but employees at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) recorded higher average remuneration during the latest reporting period.
Figures contained in SASSA’s annual reporting show that its employee salary expenditure increased substantially between 2024 and 2025, with pay rising across every major employment category.
SASSA Salary Budget Rises to R3.7 Billion
SASSA’s overall salary budget increased from approximately R3.4 billion in 2024 to R3.7 billion in 2025.
Across the agency, the average increase was approximately 6.15%, although the size of the change differed significantly depending on an employee’s occupational level.
Some of the most striking increases were recorded at opposite ends of SASSA’s employment structure, with top management and workers classified as unskilled experiencing particularly large changes in average remuneration.
Top Management Average Pay Jumps 33%
Top management recorded one of the largest increases in average salary.
The average annual remuneration for employees in this category stood at approximately R1.65 million in 2024. By 2025, the figure had climbed to nearly R2.2 million.
That represents an increase of approximately 33.08% in average remuneration for the category.
The group includes senior figures within the agency, including its chief executive and departmental leadership.
Hundreds More Employees Cross R1 Million Mark
The number of SASSA employees earning average annual salaries above R1 million also expanded.
In 2024, average remuneration above the R1 million threshold was limited to senior and top management categories.
By 2025, professionally qualified employees had joined them, with their average annual salary increasing from R956,892 to R1,017,821.
The figures indicate that an additional 462 employees were earning more than R1 million annually during the 2025 reporting period.
Unskilled Workers Record Biggest Percentage Increase
The sharpest percentage increase was recorded among employees classified as unskilled.
SASSA employed 85 workers in this category in 2024, when average annual remuneration stood at R60,117.
By 2025, the number of employees classified as unskilled had increased substantially to 308, while their average salary climbed to R106,124.
That represents a 76.52% increase in average remuneration, the largest percentage change among the employee categories listed in the report.
Senior Management Sees More Modest Increase
Senior management recorded the smallest percentage increase.
Average remuneration for the category rose from R1,270,918 in 2024 to R1,342,946 in 2025, representing an increase of 5.66%.
Three employees within the category also received performance-related rewards amounting to a combined R470,712.
Professional qualified employees recorded a 6.36% increase, while skilled employees saw their average remuneration rise 6.64%.
Semi-skilled workers received a larger 9.28% increase, with average pay climbing from R328,699 to R358,947.
Salary Changes Across SASSA Employment Levels
The figures show considerable differences in remuneration growth across the organisation.
Top management increased from R1,652,211 to R2,198,847, a 33.08% rise. Senior management moved from R1,270,918 to R1,342,946, while professionally qualified employees increased from R956,892 to R1,017,821.
Average salaries for skilled workers rose from R523,172 to R557,944, while semi-skilled employees moved from R328,699 to R358,947.
At the lowest employment level, average remuneration increased from R60,117 to R106,124.
SASSA Tightens Scrutiny of Grant Beneficiaries
The salary increases come as SASSA continues efforts to strengthen compliance within South Africa’s social grant system.
The agency reportedly removed approximately 56,000 beneficiaries from the system over a three-month period as part of its compliance activities.
National Treasury budget information has also indicated a target involving approximately 690,000 beneficiaries, reflecting broader efforts to identify recipients who may no longer satisfy grant requirements or who require further verification.
Fraud and Compliance Unit Faces Staffing Gaps
At the same time, SASSA appears to be facing staffing challenges in areas responsible for fraud prevention and compliance.
The agency had 10 employees working in fraud and compliance in 2024. By 2025, that figure had fallen by one employee.
The staffing pressure is more significant when vacancies are considered, with another 34 positions in the department still needing to be filled.
Internal audit and risk management operations have also experienced departures, with two employees leaving those teams.
Workplace Stress Among Reasons Employees Leave
SASSA’s report identified several reasons employees have left the organisation.
Career advancement opportunities elsewhere were among the factors cited, alongside different forms of workplace harassment.
Emotional burnout linked to chronic workplace stress was also identified as a reason for employee departures.
The figures highlight a contrasting picture inside the social security agency: remuneration increased across its employment categories during the reporting period, while important compliance, fraud and risk functions continued to contend with vacancies and staff departures.
