Sassa fires 4 officials over grant fraud. How to protect your payment

Sassa has fired four officials in Gauteng after disciplinary hearings linked to a fraudulent grant application and a grant recipient's payment details being changed without their consent (TimesLIVE). Criminal investigations are still under way, Sassa spokesperson Lungelo Mkamba said.

The officials worked at Sassa offices in Pretoria, Soshanguve, Fochville and Roodepoort. Sassa has not named them.

What were the officials fired for?

There are two separate cases, according to Sassa (TimesLIVE):

• Pretoria and Soshanguve: two officials were dismissed for dishonesty over the alleged processing and verification of a fraudulent grant application involving a couple.
• Fochville and Roodepoort: two officials were dismissed over the unauthorised change of a grant recipient's payment details, done without that person's consent.

Acting Gauteng regional executive manager Motshele Mohlamonyane said fraudulent grants and unauthorised changes to beneficiary details "undermine public trust and will not be tolerated" (TimesLIVE).

Is this the first time this year?

No. In July, Sassa dismissed four officials at its Nebo office in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, after an internal investigation found they had manipulated the grants system with outside syndicates in a R33 million fraud. Their appeal was turned down (SA Government).

How can you protect your grant payment?

Sassa's own guidance for beneficiaries (Sassa grant booklet):

• Never share your bank card PIN with anyone. Sassa says it will never ask for your PIN.
• Don't give personal details to someone claiming to be from Sassa until you have confirmed who they are.
• Sassa only pays grants into an active bank account in the beneficiary's own name.

Sassa also advises checking your balance regularly and reporting anything that doesn't add up to your bank straight away (Sassa FAQ).

Every bank account change has to be verified by Sassa to guard against fraud and identity theft, and a change close to payment dates can push your grant into the next cycle (Sassa statement, 7 October 2026). If your grant suddenly stops arriving in your account and you did not change anything, contact Sassa immediately.

Where do you report grant fraud?

You can report anonymously (Sassa grant booklet):

• Sassa grants and fraud hotline: 0800 60 10 11 (toll-free from landlines; cellphone calls may cost you, per Sassa)
• Email: [email protected]
• National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701

Sassa has also warned the public against working with officials to defraud the grant system (TimesLIVE).