Social Security Agency condemns queue selling, warns of grant deduction schemes

SASSA says vulnerable beneficiaries are being exploited through unauthorised policy deductions and sale of positions at local offices.

The South African Social Security Agency has condemned what it described as exploitative practices targeting social grant beneficiaries, including the illegal sale of queue positions at its offices and unauthorised deductions from grants.¹²

SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said in a statement on Thursday that reports of people selling places in queues at local offices were unacceptable and unlawful, particularly when targeting elderly persons and people living with disabilities.¹ He said action would be taken against those involved and any SASSA officials who may have enabled the practice.¹

The agency said it would strengthen security systems and work with law enforcement to curb the practice.¹ Matlou said the acts occurred at the doorsteps of SASSA offices and created an impression of complicity.¹

Separately, SASSA's Gauteng region raised concerns about beneficiaries being misled into signing documents that result in policy deductions from their grants without informed consent.² The agency cited a circulated video in which an elderly beneficiary claimed she had been deceived into completing paperwork linked to such deductions.²

SASSA said it does not partner with insurance or funeral companies to enrol beneficiaries into financial products without their knowledge.² Under regulation 29 of the Social Assistance Act, only one deduction of up to 10% of a grant is permitted for a funeral policy, and only with explicit consent.² No deductions are allowed on child-related grants.²

The agency acknowledged challenges in some offices in ensuring effective service delivery and said it was working to enhance queue management systems.¹