SASSA Clarifies It Has No Authority to Deduct Old-Age Grants
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has moved to address growing concerns over reports of unauthorised deductions from beneficiaries’ Old-Age Grants.
Numerous Complaints Spark Urgent Response
In recent weeks, several beneficiaries have reported that their grants were reduced by R165 without explanation. The Citizen reports that the volume of complaints suggests this may not be a series of isolated incidents, but rather the work of fraudulent actors targeting vulnerable recipients.
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou stressed that the agency has no legal authority to deduct any funds without first notifying the recipient and obtaining consent.
“I can tell you outright that we are not allowed to make SASSA Old-Age Grant deductions from a beneficiary without their consent. That is the regulation. Your money is your money. Once we give you the money, we have no control over that,” Matlou said.
Also Read: SASSA Social Grants Payment Dates for August 2025 Revealed
Possible Scams Linked to Funeral Policies
Matlou explained that some deductions may be linked to funeral policies that begin charging recipients immediately after their grants are paid out. He made it clear that SASSA does not offer any funeral policies and does not allow its branding to be used in marketing such products.
“There will be these unscrupulous chance-takers who will try to take advantage of SASSA grant recipients,” he said.
Cases Referred to Police for Investigation
The CEO confirmed that these unauthorised deductions have been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS). The matter is under investigation, as it is a criminal offence to misrepresent oneself as a government entity.
Beneficiaries who notice discrepancies in their payments, particularly for August, are urged to contact SASSA immediately to have the issue resolved.
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The post SASSA Denies Role in Unauthorised Old-Age Grant Deductions appeared first on iHarare News.
