SASSA REASSURES THE PUBLIC AMID CALLS FROM UBIC FOR UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME GRANT

By DSD News.

• SASSA’s verification processes are in line with legislative and parliamentary directives to root out fraud and protect vulnerable beneficiaries.
• While 58,000 grant payments were delayed in June, no grants have been suspended. Affected beneficiaries are being notified through a communications campaign, with ample time to respond.
• SASSA Open to Dialogue, Urges Direct Engagement:
  The agency remains committed to working with the Portfolio Committee and invites UBIC to raise concerns through formal channels rather than public media.

11 June 2025 – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has responded to concerns raised by the Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) regarding its current beneficiary verification processes and the broader issue of implementing a Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG).
UBIC, in a letter to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development and a public statement released on 9 June 2025, expressed dissatisfaction with SASSA’s current screening mechanisms. In response, SASSA emphasized that its verification processes are not arbitrary but instead guided by legislative obligations and Parliament’s directive to strengthen fraud mitigation strategies.
“When corruption is allowed to thrive in institutions that provide important social welfare services such as SASSA, it is the vulnerable beneficiaries who suffer the most,” noted Ms. Bridget Masango, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee.
SASSA has launched a comprehensive review of its database and grant systems to ensure that assistance reaches only eligible recipients. This includes closer scrutiny of beneficiaries who may still be active in the labour market or whose income exceeds the threshold, particularly where changes were not declared.
While no grants have been suspended, payments to approximately 58,000 beneficiaries have been delayed for review in June due to suspected non-disclosure of updated circumstances. Many of these individuals reportedly failed to update their contact details, preventing SASSA from notifying them. As a precautionary and compassionate measure, SASSA has opted to delay payments by one week and roll out a national awareness campaign to encourage affected beneficiaries to contact the agency.
In cases where no contact is made within two months, grants may be suspended as per legislative guidelines. Beneficiaries will still have a one-month grace period to appeal before permanent cancellation and possible fraud investigations ensue.
SASSA also noted that the High Court had granted government leave to appeal a recent judgment referenced by UBIC—an acknowledgement of the complex and sensitive nature of balancing fraud prevention with social welfare obligations.
The agency reaffirmed its willingness to work constructively with both Parliament and civil society. It encouraged UBIC to engage in direct dialogue, rather than relying on public media campaigns, to address shared concerns collaboratively.