The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) evaluates its effectiveness in providing social grants to eligible recipients on an annual basis. As per the agency's 2021–2022 annual report, Sassa was able to handle social grant payments effectively 99.99% of the time on average during the most recent financial year.
In addressing the service delivery improvement objective, 98% (1 706 158 of 1 740 896) of new applications were processed within 10 days.
The modified grant value chain is responsible for the shortened response time. Reduced staff time per application is the outcome of business process revisions that have removed duplication of work.
All payment platforms used for social grant payments were examined periodically. The findings also show a decrease in recipients of payments made through the South African Post Office (SAPO) and an increase in recipients of payments made through commercial banks.
The report also found that 10 of the 14 goals set for this fiscal year by Sassa's Benefits Administration and Support programme were accomplished.
The programme oversees beneficiary maintenance as well as the entire grant administration process, from application to acceptance.
The functions relating to this programme cut across all levels within the agency, including day-to-day interaction with beneficiaries. According to Sassa, 1.2 million more people should have accessed social grants during the period under review. A total of 1 583 498 applications in all were approved, which is a 383 498 overachievement.
The agency's major goal was to give South Africans who qualified social assistance. From 18 440 572 at the end of March 2021 to 18 677 339 at the end of March 2022, the number of social grants in payment, including grant-in-aid, increased by around 1.28%.
