Latest news with #SisisiTolashe
The South African
3 days ago
- Business
- The South African
LATEST adjustments for SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025
It's all change for SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025. Just yesterday, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe tabled her social welfare budget vote in Parliament for the 2025/26 financial year. And the impact of the agency's outlined cost-cutting commitments will surely be felt on SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025. Specifically, when it comes to beneficiary income verification and the fourth payment date added to the SASSA cycle. Here's what you need to know … All the latest on SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025, including the new fourth payment date for those under review. Image: File This week, South African Social Security Agency CEO Temba Matlou confirmed the introduction of a new fourth payment date for SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025. Interestingly, this pertains to SASSA recipients who have had their monthly grants withheld, pending income verification with the agency. Previously, SASSA had to provide beneficiaries three months' notice in writing before a grant review could take place. However, since above-inflation grant increases back in April 2025, the National Treasury has been on a mission to cut costs, reduce wastage and generally tighten its belt. Now those under review merely receive an SMS … The Social Development Minister presented her budget vote in Parliament this week. Image: File As such, the agency revealed that nearly a quarter of a million social welfare grants have been withheld since May 2025. However, SASSA insists that SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025 will not be suspended erroneously. In fact, beneficiaries under review have three months to come forward and prove their income and assets are above board before payment is suspended. However, the challenge SASSA finds using this new approach is that its offices/branches are now overwhelmed with people under review. Plus, SASSA admits that as many as 140 000 SMSes sent to clients were not delivered. This is because SASSA applications are often made on a friend/family members' phone. These numbers change and/or the clients move without updating SASSA. The elderly are being put under severe strain due to increasing electricity, grocery and general living costs. Image: File As The South African reported previously, if you are selected for review, you will be asked to bring a recent bank statement, work payslip and copy your ID (plus your child's ID if applicable). Moreover, if it is proven you over-stepped the income threshold, you can must pay back the money owed in full. SASSA can provide you a custom repayment system. Unfortunately, the 'lay-away option' for SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025 will accrue interest and end up costing more over the long term. The new fourth payment date – which typically will fall on the first Friday of each month – is for beneficiaries who have resolved their income review. Three repayment options include doing so in-person at any SASSA branch office. Making a bank transfer to a SASSA regional bank account. Or arranging a debit order that goes off each month through your bank. The DA has warned that no new alternative for SASSA clients with Postbank has been arranged after their contract ends in October 2025. Image: File Nevertheless, if your financial affairs are above board, you don't need to worry about your SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025 being reviewed. New applicants can follow the below list of requirements: You must be over 60 to qualify SASSA Old-Age Grants 2025. to qualify SASSA Old-Age Grants 2025. Bring an official RSA identity document (ID). Provide all documents proving your marital status. Supply a proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it). Show all proof of income and/or financial dividends. Bring any information regarding assets, valuation of property. You must declare any private pension in your name. Provide a valid three months' statement certified by your bank (no older than three months'). Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership book, or discharge certificate from your previous employer. A copy of your will, and first and final liquidation and distribution accounts if your spouse has passed away in the last five years. We still wait to see if the National Treasury will announce another SASSA grant increase – as is typically the case – in October 2025. Image: File Crucial to securing SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025 is proving to the agency that you are sufficiently under privileged. Therefore, your assets and income cannot exceed the following: Earn less than R8 070 per month ( R96 840 per year) if single. per month ( per year) if single. Earn less than R16 140 per month ( R193 680 per year) if married. per month ( per year) if married. Total assets must not be less than R1 372 800 if single. if single. Total assets must be less than R2 745 600 if married. If you are denied access to SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025, note that you do have 90 days to lodge an appeal with the Department of Social Development (DSD) HERE. Be sure to diarise the remaining Older Person payment dates for the rest of 2025. Image: File Moreover, while it is a slightly longer gap to the pay date for SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025, thankfully the four-week cycle returns next month: AUGUST – Tuesday 5 August 2025 SEPTEMBER – Tuesday 2 September 2025 OCTOBER – Thursday 2 October 2025 NOVEMBER – Tuesday 4 November 2025 DECEMBER – Tuesday 2 December 2025 Those who have SASSA Old-Age Grants in August 2025 under review, can try these provincial contacts for urgent assistance: Toll-free number: 080 060 1011 WhatsApp number: +27 82 046 8553 Eastern Cape: 043 707 6300 Gauteng: 011 241 8320 Mpumalanga: 013 754 9446 Limpopo: 015 291 7509 North West: 018 388 4006 Free State: 051 410 8339 North West: 053 802 4919 KwaZulu-Natal: 033 846 3324 Western Cape: 021 469 0235 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Agency to investigate SASSA Disability Grant maladministration
In the broader scheme of social welfare, the SASSA Disability Grant is paid to relatively few beneficiaries. At last count, the total number of SASSA Disability Grant recipients numbered less than a million. Meanwhile, 13 million receive Child Support and 4 million Older Person benefits. However, Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, told a meeting in Khayelitsha last week, that investigations were underway to remedy any potential irregularities. Specifically, when it comes to the SASSA Disability Grant, the South African Social Security Agency is accused of not examining patients properly. You see, to qualify for a SASSA Disability Grant – never mind an asset and means test – you need an official letter by a government-approved doctor. Furthermore, Minister Tolashe said the department had heard of patients who have no right to a SASSA Disability Grant being awarded one. As such, she says the agency is recruiting new doctors on a three-year contract to remedy the situation, reports GroundUp . The minister was slated to attend a similar outreach programme meeting recently, but did not arrive, angering community members. Image: File As such, the minister explained that she doesn't want the agency being taken to court for denying those who legitimately qualify for the SASSA Disability Grant. So far in 2025, SASSA has also been under fire for stricter income and identity verification processes. Moreover, the department has defended its actions, saying it's not circumventing the accepted three-month review process. But, rather, it is working to ensure that taxpayer money isn't going to grant recipients with unverified ID or additional income. Minister Tolashe spoke candidly at an outreach programme meeting last week. Hundreds of grant beneficiaries attended. The event started late, and Khayelitsha residents voiced their grievances to the minister in person. Beyond issues with the SASSA Disability Grant, others mentioned unemployment, poor services at clinics, abuse of older persons and extortion of vulnerable beneficiaries. Other grievances mentioned include: Lack of youth programmes and educational camps. R370-a-month SRD grant was not enough. Lack of SASSA staff and facilities in underserved areas like Khayelitsha. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
11-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Black Sash welcomes basic income grant progress
CAPE TOWN - Human rights organisation Black Sash has welcomed Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe's budget vote, particularly the strides being made toward introducing a Basic Income Grant. While the organisation is encouraged by the progress, it has also raised concerns about key issues surrounding the grant's implementation.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
No grants will be cancelled without verification and due process, says Social Development Minister Tolashe
As the Department modernises SASSA and reviews grant eligibility, Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe stresses no grant will be stopped without due process, urging beneficiaries to cooperate with the verification process. Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe stated that no social grants will be cancelled without proper verification and due process. Delivering the department's Budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, Tolashe assured Parliament that the Department remains committed to ensuring grants reach only eligible recipients. She noted that recent efforts to review beneficiaries are not about unfairly cutting people off, but about ensuring that only those eligible receive grants. 'We have not stopped or suspended any grant without due process. I wish to appeal to all beneficiaries who have received correspondence to visit SASSA offices and undergo a review process,' she said. Tolashe emphasised that the grant system is a vital social safety net, supporting over 27 million beneficiaries, including 13 million children and more than 4 million older persons. Of the department's R294 billion budget allocation, R284 billion will go directly to monthly social assistance, while SASSA receives R24.7 billion for grant administration over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period.
Eyewitness News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
No grant payments will be cancelled without prior verification
CAPE TOWN - As thousands of grant beneficiaries brave freezing temperatures in snaking queues through the night, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has reiterated that no grant payments would be cancelled without prior verification. She said that the state could save up to a billion rand a year if it rooted out the fraud prevalent at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Delivering her budget vote address in Parliament on Thursday, Tolashe said that her department was still working on ways to convert the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to a permanent basic income grant. SASSA's verification of eligible beneficiaries and those suspected of having alternative income has been causing upheaval countrywide. But Minister Tolashe is appealing to those who've been requested to visit SASSA offices to undergo the review process to do so, saying it was part of modernising and transforming the agency. "Let me be very clear. We have not stopped or suspended any grant without due process." Tabling her department's R294 billion budget, 96% of which is allocated for social grants, Tolashe said that she would soon retable a policy proposal to Cabinet on the introduction of a permanent basic income grant. "The additional element of this policy proposal is to link beneficiaries to employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities." Tolashe said that by the end of the year, all SASSA offices would be fitted with biometric systems to clamp down on grant fraud.
