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Social grants set to increase in April

Location: News

Social grants set to increase in April

All social grants, barring the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, are expected to increase from April this year.

Delivering the 2025 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the number of social grant beneficiaries – excluding those receiving the SRD grant – is expected to rise to some 19 million in 2025/26 and 19.3 million in 2027/28 due to a growing population of older persons.

Godongwana said for 2025/26, social grants will be allocated some RR284.7 billion.

“As announced by the President in the State of the Nation Address, the SRD will be used as a basis for the introduction of a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people.

“The future form and nature of the SRD will be informed by the outcome of the review of active labour market programmes. This is expected to be completed by September 2025.

“The truth is that ours is one of the most comprehensive social safety nets among emerging economies. This reflects our commitment to addressing poverty and inequality, while keeping our spending sustainable,” he said.

The grant increases this year include:

  • Old age grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
  • War veterans grant will increase from R2205 to R2335
  • Disability grant will go up from R2185 to R2315
  • Foster care grant rises from R1180 to R1250
  • Care dependency grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
  • Child support grant will go up from R530 to R560
  • The grant-in-aid will increase from R530 to R560

In the Budget Review, National Treasury said the budget for social grants is “increased by R8.2 billion over the medium term to account for higher costs of living”. 

“An amount of R35.2 billion is allocated to extend the payment at the current [SRD] R370 per month per beneficiary, including administration costs,” the department said.

The Department of Social Development, which administers social grants, has been allocated R422.3 billion in 2025/26, which is expected to increase to R452.7 billion in 2027/28, at an average annual growth rate of 4.5%.

“This funding supports poverty reduction through social grants, the provision of risk benefits through social insurance and the delivery of welfare services, development initiatives, empowerment programmes, gender equality initiatives and advocacy for children, women, youth, the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

“Social grant spending makes up 81 percent of the allocation for this function. At an average annual growth rate of 5.3 percent, social protection spending increases above inflation over the medium term; however, social grant reform and efficiency savings will be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the social security system.

“[The] sector’s operational budget will be subject to conditions, including the need to improve biometric verification of recipients to achieve savings,” the National Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 03/12/2025 - 13:57
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Read moreSocial grants set to increase in April

Beware of fake COVID-19 SRD application sites

Location: News

Beware of fake COVID-19 SRD application sites

The Department of Social Development and it's entity the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), have warned the public of fake sites and links for applications for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (cSRD) grants.

The correct and authentic application platform for all applications for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress is https://SRD.sassa.gov.za .

The following links: https://srd-sassa.org.za  and https://srdsassagov.co.za  are fake and are used to collect data from unsuspecting applicants, stealing personal information from applicants of the grant of R370. 

This was revealed in Parliament on Wednesday when the Portfolio Committee on Social Development received an update into the investigation on alleged weaknesses and fraud in the application and payment system of social grants. 

The Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe instituted an investigation into vulnerabilities of the applications and systems used by SASSA for the payment of social grants. 

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development had made recommendations to conduct an investigation on alleged vulnerabilities after claims of fraud in the application system of the cSRD were made by two students from the University of Stellenbosch.

“Phase 1 of the investigation consisted of a comprehensive audit into the SRD application system administered by SASSA to determine the extent to which the system was exposed to Fraud. 

“The findings of this audit will serve as input as a basis for Phase 2, which will be an investigation into alleged fraud and weaknesses in the broader social grant system that results in ineligible beneficiaries receiving social grants,” said the Department of Social Development in a statement.

The Final Report on the Vulnerability Assessment (VA) and Penetration Testing (PT) on the SRD online system administered by SASSA made the following findings, among others:

- That there are unidentified, malicious websites with .org and .co.za domain names that purport to be the authentic SRD application websites that are used to harvest applicants information for fraud purposes

- That the SRD web application has weaknesses, such as unencrypted communications, that present threats to the security of the platform and the safety of users. These weaknesses are classified as medium risk by the Final Audit Report.

The Final Audit recommends a communication campaign warning beneficiaries and applicants about the unofficial and fake sites that are used to harvest their information for fraudulent purposes.

The department said SASSA has developed an action plan to respond to the recommendations of the Final Audit Report. It has the following activities: 

- It has replaced the HTTPS: method with a POST method to protect communications between the applicant and the server that processes their information.

-To implement a Rate Limit to limit the abnormal number of requests made to the SRD application system

- Update outdated software, and

- Implement regular patch updates and introduce biometric 

In the long term, and within 18 months, SASSA will take down the fake websites and other content that violates its brand, copyright or right to information and privacy.

Minister Tolashe has assured the committee of her commitment in addressing the vulnerabilities and weaknesses identified in the system. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine
Wed, 02/26/2025 - 15:38
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All fraudulent COVID-19 SRD grants automatically canceled

Location: News

All fraudulent COVID-19 SRD grants automatically canceled

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has announced the automatic cancellation of all fraudulent R370 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments.

The SRD grant is administered in terms of app-section 32 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004) and is implemented with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance. The grant is meant for South African citizens, refugees, asylum seekers and special permit holders, who are between the ages of 18 and 60 years, who have insufficient means, who do not receive social grants on behalf of themselves, or who are not contributing to or eligible for Unemployment Insurance Fund payment, and have no financial support from any other source.

In a statement on Monday, the agency informed all beneficiaries that it is mandated to cancel all fraudulent grant payments, while emphasising its commitment to combatting fraud and ensuring that grants are paid to the rightful beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries, whose grants are cancelled due to suspected fraud, are allowed to reapply.

“SASSSA implemented this activity to ensure that the Agency pays social grants to the right people and avoid fraud.

“The agency is encouraging people to take responsibility to make sure that their identity numbers are not utilised for fraudulent activities. SASSA beneficiaries must ensure that they do not share their identity numbers with strangers to avoid becoming aiding fraudsters,” the Agency said. 

To manage these cases effectively, SASSA has deployed a team of well-trained officials assigned to deal with COVID-19 SRD grant cases.

Beneficiaries, who suspect fraudulent activity involving their grants, are encouraged to report it immediately via SASSA's toll-free hotline or WhatsApp service.

“Beneficiaries are encouraged to note that when they check their status and find out that it states “referred” it means that the SASSA system is suspecting fraudulent activity therefore the beneficiary must contact SASSA immediately to resolve the case,” the Agency said. 

SASSA also warned beneficiaries not to keep changing their banking details and contact numbers because those processes delay the payment processes.

For further assistance or information, beneficiaries can contact SASSA toll-free on 0800 60 10 11, or call 013 754 9428/9363 during working hours, Monday to Friday. WhatsApp inquiries can be directed to 082 046 8553. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Mon, 01/20/2025 - 10:01

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Bulk water project signals new chapter for Eastern Cape communities

Location: News

Bulk water project signals new chapter for Eastern Cape communities

To help end the persistent water challenges faced by communities in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has handed over the newly upgraded Mount Ayliff Water Treatment Works (WTW) for communities in that area.

The commissioning certificate of the upgraded water treatment works was handed over to Alfred Nzo District Municipality Mayor, Vukile Mhlelembana, on Wednesday, signalling a new chapter for the communities of Mt Ayliff that struggled with intermittent water supply.

The Alfred Nzo District in the Eastern Cape, has experienced water shortages in Mount Ayliff and the surrounding areas for a long time due to population growth, and the increased demand of water supply services in the area.

The then Mount Ayliff WTW could not meet water demand due to malfunction and ageing infrastructure.

The currently upgraded WTW, based in uMzimvubu Local Municipality within the District, will improve water supply to about 38 184 households in Emaxesibeni and the surrounding five villages of Betshwana, Singeni, Mombeni, Lubhalasi and Santombe.

Majodina said the WTW is part of the R370 million Mount Ayliff Peri-Urban Bulk Water Supply Project, funded through the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with the Alfred Nzo District Municipality as the implementing agent.

“The scope of the project entailed upgrading the raw water abstraction point at Mzintlava River and installing pipelines that take raw water to a reservoir at the WTW to be treated before distribution to the communities. Other work included the construction of pump stations and upgrading of the existing gravity network pipes from the WTW,” she said.

Majodina urged Mhlembana to prioritise water reticulation projects that will ensure reliable and sustainable water supply to the communities.

Updates on uMzimvubu Dam, Vandalism

The Minister also highlighted progress made in the revived construction of uMzimvubu Dam, in uMzimvubu River, which will ensure sufficient water supply in Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo District Municipalities.

“The Mount Ayliff Peri-Urban Water Supply Project is an effort by the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that the Alfred Nzo District has sufficient water supply. As we have completed this project, we are calling on the community of Mount Ayliff not to vandalise or illegally connect to the infrastructure installed but they should patiently wait for the reticulation projects in their areas.

“Plans to build uMzimvubu Dam to benefit Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo District Municipalities are at an advanced stage. This dam will ensure that there is enough water within the two districts,” Majodina said.

The Minister also called on communities to look after water infrastructure in their areas and protect them from vandalism.

She further encouraged the community members to save water and report any water leaks to the municipalities. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

GabiK
Fri, 12/20/2024 - 11:02

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