While the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) ensures that millions of financially strained South Africans receive their monthly social grants. It appears that, despite its best effort, the agency is not immune to acts of fraudulent activity.
Sassa has recently flagged an online message which has been circulating to its beneficiaries as fake news. The online message in question claims that Sassa has released an application form for a Sassa grant that amounts to R700. Additionally, the fake message calls on beneficiaries to apply by clicking on a link to register for the grant.
The message also seems to be targeting beneficiaries of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant under the guise of an increase to the above mentioned amount of R700.
It is worth noting that the SRD grant is still paid out in amounts of R350 per month. This grant will end in March 2024.
In the face of online messages that spread fake news under its name, Sassa has always urged beneficiaries to never share their personal information with unknown individuals who claim to be representatives of Sassa.
As a Sassa beneficiary, these official communication channels through which beneficiaries can make several queries ranging from Sassa grant payment schedules, to those relating to social grant applications.
You can check on the status of your account to ensure that you have the code 'pending' when you run the Sassa status check.
Will The R350 Grant Ever Be Increased?
Since it's inception in 2020, the Special Relief of Distress (SRD) grant has stayed the same and no Sassa grant increases have been made. There have been countless cries for an SRD grant increase.
During a National Assembly meeting, a member of Parliament asked what the reason behind this is. This is definitely not the first time this question has been posed to government.
The Department of Social Development responded with saying that the lack of an increase is due to "fiscal constraints".
They went further and said that they too are concerned that, in fewer words, the grant is not enough. In explaining, they said:
The Department is also concerned that since its implementation in 2020, the value has remained unchanged and is not keeping pace with inflation which directly translate to the value of the grant decreasing every year as the inflation increases.
The Department is said to have approached the National Treasury requesting that the grant be increased but that "the request was not favourably considered due to fiscal constraints".
To find out more about Sassa grants, including the R350 grant, head to our Sassa section.
