SASSA says government employees owe them more than R315 million

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in KwaZulu-Natal has launched a recovery process targeting more than R315 million allegedly paid to public servants who were not eligible for social grants.

The initiative follows concerns over irregular grant payments and findings highlighted by the Auditor-General regarding payments made to ineligible beneficiaries during the 2025/26 financial year.

According to reports, SASSA is working with provincial government departments to identify employees who received social grants while earning government salaries. Authorities are seeking to establish how the payments were approved and recover funds where recipients breached eligibility requirements.

The reported findings have renewed questions about oversight and verification within South Africa’s social assistance system. Nationally, billions of rand were reportedly paid to people who did not qualify for grants, with some payments allegedly involving government employees whose salaries should have disqualified them from receiving certain benefits.

Officials are expected to work with the relevant departments to identify affected employees, determine the amounts paid and pursue the recovery of public funds. The process is also intended to strengthen accountability and prevent further irregular payments.

The issue has attracted public attention because social grants provide essential financial support to millions of vulnerable South Africans. Concerns over payments to ineligible recipients have raised questions about whether existing controls are sufficient to ensure that assistance reaches those who meet the requirements.

As the recovery process continues, further details are expected to clarify how the alleged irregular payments occurred, the number of public servants involved and the measures being introduced to prevent similar cases.

The reported R315 million recovery effort is likely to keep attention focused on the management of public funds and the effectiveness of safeguards within the social grant system.

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