SASSA Grant Payment Delays Could Affect Over 2 Million Beneficiaries by October 2025, Warns Public Protector
Over 2 million South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant recipients may not receive their social grants in October 2025, following a critical warning from the Office of the Public Protector regarding ongoing SASSA grant payment delays.
A damning investigative report released by the Public Protector’s office reveals multiple failures within SASSA and its payment partner, Postbank, putting the grant payment system at risk. The report outlines undue delays by SASSA in assuming direct control of grant payments, an ineffectively managed system under the South African Post Office, and the irregular appointment of former CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula.
One of the most alarming findings is that the Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Postbank—SASSA’s current grant disbursement partner—is set to expire at the end of September 2025. With Postbank failing to meet compliance requirements set by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) since 2021, renewing the contract appears unlikely.
“Notwithstanding the fact that SASSA is not a designated clearing system participant, it will still be responsible for the management and administration of the payment of social grants in the absence of Postbank,” the report states.
This leaves SASSA with three limited options:
- Become a designated clearing system participant—a process experts say is virtually impossible to complete in just two months.
- Find a new, credible and compliant service provider before October.
- Renew the agreement with Postbank, despite ongoing compliance failures and operational concerns.
Failure to secure an alternative payment solution could directly affect the 2,169,371 beneficiaries reliant on monthly grants, including those receiving child support grants, disability grants, and older persons’ grants.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on SASSA, Postbank, and the SARB to urgently appear before Parliament and explain how grants will be distributed from October onwards.
“South Africans deserve answers. Millions of vulnerable citizens depend on these grants to survive,” said a DA spokesperson. “This crisis needs to be resolved before it becomes a humanitarian disaster.”
In light of these potential SASSA grant payment delays, grant recipients are strongly advised to switch to private, reputable banks as their payment destination to ensure uninterrupted access to their funds.
As the deadline looms, South Africans now await swift, transparent action from government bodies to secure the continued delivery of critical social support.