Latest news with #BlackSash
The Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Surge in number of Sassa beneficiaries cut off without explanation — Black Sash raises concern amid reviews
Black Sash argued that communication is not sufficient, especially for people in rural areas. 'We reject the notion that SMSs and bulk communication are sufficient or effective. 'Black Sash has consistently called Sassa out on its poor communication strategy and bulk communication in a short time does not address the issue of beneficiaries not receiving their grants within a reasonable time in a way that Sassa can constitute adequate notice confirming that the beneficiary has been informed. It is the state's duty to provide reliable, direct and accessible communication and not to shift the blame onto those who are most excluded from formal systems.' The organisation called on Sassa to ensure fairness, transparency and dignity during the review process. It urged Sassa to pause the review process until effective, community-based communication strategies are in place. 'Black Sash does not oppose fair and lawful grant reviews. But a review process that results in confusion, exclusion and hunger without due process is not a review. 'While we appreciate the attempt to explain the legal framework and rationale behind the reviews, the reality for grant recipients on the ground tells a far more troubling story, one that cannot be brushed aside by semantics, administrative language or internal justifications. 'Social grants are not just a bureaucratic process, they are a lifeline, a constitutional right and a matter of life and dignity for millions. We urge Sassa to act swiftly and justly.' TimesLIVE
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SASSA under fire over grant review process amid complaints from beneficiaries
Civil society group Black Sash has condemned SASSA for "failing" thousands of social grant recipients Image: File Civil society group Black Sash has condemned SASSA for failing thousands of social grant recipients, saying many have had their payments delayed without a clear explanation or proper notice. The watchdog has also called for a pause in the ongoing review process, citing widespread confusion and distress among beneficiaries. "Despite the CEO's claim that no grants have been suspended, we are witnessing a surge in complaints from beneficiaries who have been cut off without a clear explanation or notification. "Our Community Monitoring teams, based across the country and our national Helpline have been overwhelmed with distress calls from elderly persons, people with disabilities and caregivers, many of whom only discovered their grants had been 'flagged' when their money failed to appear" The advocacy group also argued that the situation was further exacerbated by the impact of bank verification checks on Older Persons' grants, which also impacted grant payment delays and added to the fear, confusion, and queues at SASSA local offices. Black Sash's message was in response to SASSA' CEO, Themba Matlou, who, during a press briefing on Monday, defended the agency's review process as necessary for verifying eligibility and combating fraud. "SASSA would like to categorically state that no social grant payments have been suspended or halted. All approved grants remain valid, andpayments continue to be processed. Any beneficiary with an active andvalid grant remains entitled to receive their payment," Matlou said. "This year, we have only introduced and implemented a 4th payment date to our payment schedule, where beneficiaries targeted for a review are paid on the 4th day". Matlou added that this "would ensure that they receive their payment after the necessary review, without prejudicing the general payment cycle for others,". In an interview on 702 on Monday, SASSA's Executive Manager for Grants Administration, Brenton van Vrede, provided further clarity on what constitutes 'additional income' and how beneficiaries are selected for review. He explained that only formal incomes, such as salaries, rental income, or court-ordered maintenance, count towards the means test. 'Maintenance is considered as income, but most people don't formalise that arrangement. So, it wouldn't be considered additional income unless there's a maintenance agreement.' Regarding income thresholds, Van Vrede specified: 'The means test threshold for the child support grant is R5,600, and the old age grant is almost R9,000, R8,990.' He added that rental income or any other income pushing beneficiaries over these limits could result in ineligibility for grants. 'If that rental income takes them over the threshold, then they won't qualify for the grant.' IOL News [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Black Sash criticises SASSA's review process, jeopardising social grant beneficiaries
Black Sash has slammed the ongoing social grant recipient verification process, which it says has resulted in elderly individuals and people with disabilities having to wait in long queues over unpaid social grants. Image: Supplied Civil society organisation fighting for the rights of social grant recipients, Black Sash, has slammed the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) for its "unfair" review process, which has resulted in the flagging of more than 200,000 social grant beneficiaries who could lose out on their social grants. On Monday, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou revealed that his department has identified over 200,000 social grant beneficiaries who have failed to disclose their income accurately. SASSA spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, stated that some of the recipients have deliberately falsified their documents. Matlou warned grant recipients to come clean about additional income or risk losing their support, saying the ongoing process is part of a legal requirement under Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act, which obliges beneficiaries to notify SASSA of any significant changes in their financial or personal circumstances. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In April 2025, the agency announced scheduled payment delays for targeted social grant beneficiaries who are required to visit local offices to confirm changes in their financial circumstances and update personal details. ''This step was taken following collaboration with registered Credit Bureaus, which flagged approximately 210,000 beneficiaries as receiving income that had not been truthfully disclosed,'' he said. Black Sash accused SASSA of approaching this matter in a manner that lacks transparency and fairness, with Black Sash's advocacy manager, Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker, stating that the organisation has noted the briefing delivered by SASSA's Matlou. "While we appreciate the attempt to explain the legal framework and rationale behind the reviews, the reality for grant recipients on the ground tells a far more troubling story - one that cannot be brushed aside by semantics, administrative language, or internal justifications. We acknowledge that SASSA has a legal obligation to ensure the integrity of the social assistance system and conduct reviews as prescribed by the Social Assistance Act. However, this does not absolve the agency from its constitutional duty to ensure procedural fairness, transparency, and dignity in how these reviews are carried out," said Abrahams-Fayker. Black Sash has indicated that, despite the CEO's claim that no grants have been suspended, the organisation has been inundated with calls from social grant recipients whose grants have been negatively affected by this process. "We are witnessing a surge in complaints from beneficiaries who have been cut off without a clear explanation or notification. Our community monitoring teams, based across the country, and our national helpline have been overwhelmed with distress calls from elderly persons, people with disabilities, and caregivers, many of whom only discovered their grants had been 'flagged' when their money failed to appear. This was further exacerbated by the impact of bank verification checks on Older Persons' grants, which also impacted grant payment delays and added to the fear, confusion, and queues at SASSA local offices," Black Sash said. Black Sash has also indicated that many grant beneficiaries, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities, have limited access to phones, network connectivity, digital platforms, or updated contact details, which SASSA themselves have acknowledged. "Black Sash has consistently called SASSA out on its poor communication strategy, and bulk communication in a short time does not address the issue of beneficiaries not receiving their grants within a reasonable time in a way that SASSA can constitute adequate notice confirming that the beneficiary has been informed. The state has to provide reliable, direct, and accessible communication and not to shift the blame onto those who are most excluded from formal systems," she said.
eNCA
11-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Black Sash welcomes basic income grant progress
CAPE TOWN - Human rights organisation Black Sash has welcomed Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe's budget vote, particularly the strides being made toward introducing a Basic Income Grant. While the organisation is encouraged by the progress, it has also raised concerns about key issues surrounding the grant's implementation.
eNCA
11-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Black Sash welcomes progress into progress on Basic Income Grant
JOHANNESBURG - While the Black Sash has welcomed the Social Development Department's budget and the progress on implementing a Basic Income Grant, the picture is less promising at the provincial level. In Gauteng, beneficiaries are growing increasingly concerned about budget cuts and the potential impact on social welfare services in the province.
