South African Social Security Agency

SASSA office in Cape Town

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is a national agency of the South African Government created in April 2005. SASSA was created to administer the application, approval and payment of social grants in South Africa. It was also designed to reallocate the function of social security from South Africa's provinces to the national sphere of government and reports to the Ministry of Social Development. Its current chief executive officer is Virginia Peterson. SASSA is a section 3A public entity, the focused institution responsible to ensure that government pays the right grant, to the right person, at a location which is most convenient to that person.

Types of grants

Social Assistance is provided in the form of:

• grant for older persons;
• disability grant;
• war veteran’s grant;
• care dependency grant;
• foster child grant;
• child support grant;
• grant-in-aid;
• Social Relief of Distress.

Previously, all nine (9) provincial governments were responsible for the administration of social grants, but this created serious social delivery challenges especially the delay in the approval and payments of grants, possible fraud and corruption in the system, inhumane pay points facilities and huge administration costs in delivering social grants.

Adoption of the South African Social Security Agency Act, 2004 and the amendment of the Social Assistance Act, 2004, by National Parliament, paved the way for a more professional and focused service delivery to the social grant beneficiaries. This will yield the following dividends in the future:

• Payment of social grants anywhere in the country regardless of where the social grant beneficiary reside;
• Applying for a grant at any city or province in the country;
• Reduction of waiting period to receive your grant from 3 months to 14 working days;
• Establishment of paypoints at every 50 km radius;
• Elimination of paypoints without humane facilities, electricity, proper sitting and security arrangements;
• Employment of staff who went through security vetting to avoid attracting staff members with dubious intentions.

Where Do You Apply For A Grant?

• You apply at the SASSA Office nearest to where you live;
• If you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply for a grant, then a family member or friend can apply on your behalf;
• Your application form will be completed in the presence of an officer from SASSA;
• When your application is completed you will be given a receipt;
• Keep this receipt - it is your only proof of application;
• You do not have to pay any money to apply;
• If your application is not approved by SASSA, you must be informed in writing as to why your application was unsuccessful;
• You have the right to appeal to the Minister for Social Development in writing, explaining why you disagree with the decision. This appeal must be lodged within 90 days of notification of the outcome of your application.

References

• SASSA.gov.za
• SouthAfrican.info, online article