SASSA Rejects Claims That R30 Million Deal Was Meant to Boost CEO’s Image

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has strongly rejected allegations that its R30 million communication and marketing contract was designed to improve the public image of acting CEO Themba Matlou.

The claims followed a report that R29 million of the three-year contract (running from 2025 to 2028) had already been spent in its first year. The same report suggested that media engagement sessions organised by SASSA were aimed at discouraging negative coverage of Matlou.

In a statement released on Friday, SASSA clarified that the contract was established before Matlou became acting CEO in December 2024. At the time the deal was initiated, he was still serving as regional executive manager for Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

The agency said the contract was intended to strengthen its communication and marketing capacity across all nine provinces and improve public awareness of its services.

SASSA pointed to the large-scale migration of beneficiaries from Gold Cards to Postbank or other banks as a major reason for the intensive communication drive.

“The migration process presented a substantial public communication challenge. The initial deadline was 28 February 2025. As that date approached, a significant number of beneficiaries had yet to migrate, prompting an extension to 20 March 2025,” the agency said.

“By then, more than one million SASSA Gold Card holders had still not migrated. The deadline was subsequently extended to 30 April 2025, while further communication and beneficiary education remained necessary.”

The agency used social media, traditional media, and public campaigns at taxi ranks and shopping malls to reach beneficiaries.

SASSA also rejected suggestions that the media briefings were introduced by Matlou to polish his personal image. It noted that his first media engagement only took place in March 2025.

The sessions, the agency said, were aimed at helping journalists understand SASSA’s operations and providing accurate information on social grants, eligibility requirements, and grant reviews.

“These engagements addressed significant operational and policy matters affecting beneficiaries, including card migration, social grant reviews and the Agency’s two decades of service delivery. The fact that the CEO participates in explaining the work of an institution he leads does not, in itself, establish that public resources are being used to promote him personally,” the statement read.

SASSA maintains that the spending was necessary to keep millions of grant beneficiaries informed during a critical period of service changes.

https://iol.co.za/business/2026-10-23-sassa-rejects-claims-r30-million-deal-was-designed-to-make-ceo-look-good/

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