The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has suspended more than 70,000 social grant payments after beneficiaries were found to be non-compliant during a national eligibility review process.

The agency confirmed that a total of 240,000 social grant payments were reviewed as part of efforts to ensure that all recipients still qualify for assistance based on their current financial and personal circumstances. The review process was conducted in cooperation with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), allowing for cross-checking of income, student funding and employment data.

SASSA leadership briefed the media in Cape Town on Thursday, outlining the agency’s intensified campaign to protect the integrity of the social grant system and prevent fraud.

SASSA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Themba Matlou, said the measures introduced were already producing results.

“These measures go a long way in detecting and preventing fraud cases in the social grant system. We have also implemented life certification for identified beneficiaries, and the review of targeted beneficiary groups,” said Matlou.

He added that for the current financial year, SASSA had planned to conduct 420,000 beneficiary reviews. By the third quarter, just under 400,000 beneficiaries had already been notified to present themselves for verification.

As part of its anti-fraud strategy, SASSA last year introduced compulsory biometric enrolment for all new social grant applications. This system is aimed at preventing identity fraud and ensuring that grants are paid only to qualifying individuals.

The Department of Social Development previously revealed that in 2024, SASSA had paid approximately R140 million to beneficiaries who were already deceased, highlighting the scale of irregularities within the system.

SASSA has urged all beneficiaries who have been notified for review to cooperate fully, warning that failure to comply may result in the suspension or termination of grant payments. The agency says the process is necessary to protect public funds and ensure that social assistance reaches those who genuinely need it most.