Advocacy group Black Sash has rejected claims of a dispute with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) over the ongoing review of social grants, labelling such reports as misleading and counterproductive.
Executive Director Rachel Bukasa clarified that the organisation remains committed to working collaboratively with SASSA, despite raising concerns about how the review process is impacting vulnerable beneficiaries.
“Black Sash continues to engage SASSA as an important stakeholder in our shared mission to ensure that no qualifying beneficiary is left behind or excluded from the social grants system,” said Bukasa. “We recognise that SASSA is legally obliged to implement review processes as guided by legislation and National Treasury reforms. However, our concern is with the effect this has on those who rely solely on these grants to survive.”
Bukasa also noted that SASSA has shown a willingness to address urgent concerns raised by Black Sash, including improved communication, extended office hours, and increased administrative capacity.
She welcomed reports that some affected beneficiaries received payments on the fourth payment day, as committed. However, she urged SASSA to ensure that verification systems are reliable and do not unfairly exclude eligible recipients.
“We call on SASSA to monitor the current system closely and ensure beneficiaries have the opportunity to respond to any verification issues, particularly where online checks may produce inaccurate results,” she concluded.
