Social Grants
Social grants are cash transfers paid by government to eligible citizens to alleviate poverty and provide a social safety net. In South Africa, the social grant system is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the developing world, administered by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) under the oversight of the Department of Social Development. The programme encompasses several grant types, including the old age grant, disability grant, child support grant, foster child grant, care dependency grant and war veterans' grant. The child support grant is the most widely distributed, reaching millions of children in low-income households. Social grants are funded through the national fiscus and represent a significant portion of government expenditure, with allocations determined annually by National Treasury. Eligibility is means-tested, with income and asset thresholds designed to target the poorest and most vulnerable South Africans. The grants are indexed to inflation and adjusted periodically to maintain their real value. The system plays a critical role in reducing inequality and supporting household consumption, particularly in rural areas and informal settlements where formal employment opportunities are limited. Social grants have been shown to improve nutrition, school attendance and health outcomes among beneficiaries. The programme's scale and fiscal cost make it a recurring focus in budget debates and economic policy discussions.
Social Grants Updates
Predatory Welfare Cape Town Book Launch
9th June 2026 The Book Lounge, 71 Roeland St &Buitenkant, Cape Town City Centre Thursday, 11 June, 17:30 for 18:00 RSVP at rsvp@jacana.co.za People don't go... →
Science and technology must be leveraged to resolve data migration challenges in paying social grants
26th May 2026 The Portfolio Committee on Science, Innovation and Technology has called on entities like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)... →
The vicious cycle: Contribute, withdraw, tax, repeat
4th May 2026 Almost nineteen months after the introduction of South Africa’s two-pot retirement system on 1 September 2024, a troubling pattern is emerging—one... →
Predatory Welfare: How Finance Capital Profiteers from Social Grants
4th May 2026 In this heartbreakingly gripping tell-all, South Africa’s public social grants system and private finance capital clash in what ultimately ends in... →
FUL welcomes Constitutional Court judgment in social grants case
10th April 2026 Freedom Under Law (FUL) welcomes the judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court (CC) on 8 April 2026 in the matter of Black Sash Trust v... →
IFP Reaction to the 2026 Budget Speech
26th February 2026 The IFP welcomes the 2026 Budget Speech delivered by Finance Minister Hon .Enoch Godongwana, as it reflects several priorities the Party has... →
Treasury targets more savings after R12bn identified under TARS scheme
By: Terence Creamer 25th February 2026 The National Treasury reports that R12-billion in savings has been identified for the coming three years as a result of its Targeted and... →
Sassa officials arrested in social grants fraud case
By: Thabi Shomolekae 25th February 2026 Four suspects, including two current South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) officials and one former official were arrested in connection... →
SASSA welcomes arrest of suspects in fraud case
25th February 2026 The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA/the Agency) in Gauteng welcomes the arrests of four suspects, including two current officials and... →
IFP Expectations Ahead of the 2026 National Budget
24th February 2026 The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) outlines its expectations ahead of the 2026 National Budget, grounded in fiscal responsibility, pro-poor... →
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