Government

SASSA suspends its KZN boss. What it means for your November grant

SASSA has placed KwaZulu-Natal regional manager Thamo Mzobe on precautionary suspension over matters from her time at the NDA. It says this is not a finding of guilt, and November grant dates are unchanged.

By Reported Team

SASSA sign at the entrance of a SASSA local office in Cape Town
Photo: Josephou, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

SASSA has placed Thamo Mzobe, its regional executive manager in KwaZulu-Natal, on precautionary suspension from 28 October 2026 (IOL). The agency says the move is an administrative step and not a finding of guilt (SABC News).

SASSA posted its media statement on X on 29 October (SASSA on X). Nothing in the coverage of that statement points to any change to grant payments in KwaZulu-Natal, and SASSA's revised November payment dates still stand.

Who is Thamo Mzobe?

Mzobe heads SASSA's KwaZulu-Natal region, which is run from the regional office at 1 Bank Street in Pietermaritzburg (SASSA). Before joining SASSA she was chief executive of the National Development Agency (NDA) (IOL).

Why was the SASSA KZN manager suspended?

According to SASSA, the suspension relates to matters from her time as NDA chief executive, not to her work at SASSA. The NDA and the Department of Social Development asked for disciplinary proceedings to be started against her (SABC News).

SASSA said it was obliged to cooperate as her current employer, and that the process will run under Section 16(4B) of the Public Service Act (Mail & Guardian). SASSA has not said publicly what the matters are.

"Until the outcome of the above-mentioned process, Ms Mzobe remains innocent," SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said (IOL).

Will this affect my SASSA grant in November?

SASSA's statement deals only with the suspension and announces no change to payments (IOL, SABC News). Grants are being paid early this month because of the local government elections on 4 November (SASSA):

GrantPayment date
Older Persons GrantFriday, 30 October 2026
Disability GrantMonday, 2 November 2026
Children's GrantsTuesday, 3 November 2026
Grants under reviewThursday, 5 November 2026

Source: SASSA's revised November 2026 payment schedule. SASSA says the early dates are a once-off for November (SASSA on X).

How do I check my SASSA grant status?

Use only SASSA's own channels. Don't share your ID number or PIN with anyone who contacts you claiming to help.

MethodHow
WhatsAppSend "Hi" to 082 601 0111 (SASSA on X)
SASSA Services portalLog in at services.sassa.gov.za to see your applications and their status (SASSA)
SRD grant statusEnter your ID number and the cellphone number you applied with at srd.sassa.gov.za (SASSA)
Call centreCall 0800 60 10 11 toll-free (SASSA)
Email[email protected] (SASSA)

FAQ

Why was Thamo Mzobe suspended by SASSA?

SASSA says the precautionary suspension, effective 28 October 2026, follows a request from the National Development Agency and the Department of Social Development to start disciplinary proceedings over matters from her time as NDA chief executive. SASSA says it is not a finding of guilt.

Are SASSA grant payments in KwaZulu-Natal affected?

SASSA's statement on the suspension announces no change to payments. The revised November dates stand: older persons on 30 October, disability on 2 November and children's grants on 3 November 2026.

How can I check my SASSA grant status?

Use SASSA's official channels only: WhatsApp "Hi" to 082 601 0111, the services.sassa.gov.za portal, srd.sassa.gov.za for the SRD grant, or the toll-free call centre on 0800 60 10 11.

Sources