The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has set its performance targets for the upcoming financial year, focusing on reducing poverty, improving organisational efficiency, and enhancing customer service.
Sassa plays a critical role in South Africa by providing financial relief in the form of social grants to vulnerable individuals across the country.
Currently, more than 18 million people depend on permanent grants from Sassa, in addition to millions benefiting from temporary relief mechanisms like the Social Relief of Distress Grant.
Permanent grants distributed by Sassa include the Older Persons pension grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid.
The agency has outlined its plans to improve organisational efficiency and customer service to ensure that South Africa’s most vulnerable populations have access to government support.
Social Assistance and Poverty Reduction
Sassa aims to process 1.6 million social grant applications in 2024/25, with a target of increasing this number to 1.8 million by 2026/27. In the past year, the agency processed approximately 1.5 million applications, maintaining its commitment to support individuals unable to sustain themselves or their dependents.
If Sassa reaches this target, the number of permanent grants paid to beneficiaries in South Africa will increase to more than 20 million.
Children's Social Grants
A significant focus for Sassa over the next 12 months will be ensuring eligible children below one-year-old receive social grants. The target is set to reach 85% by 2026/27, up from an estimated 70% in 2023/24.
This initiative aims to reduce exclusions and provide essential support to the youngest members of society.
Improving SRD Grant Administration
Sassa has committed to processing 95% of SRD grant applications through to 2026/27. This includes using a strict verification process to ensure that all applications, including those from asylum seekers and special permit holders, are accurately assessed and processed.
Improving Organisational Efficiency
Sassa is determined to enhance its efficiency by reducing the turnaround times for grant applications. By 2026/27, the agency plans to process 90% of new grant applications within five days, a significant improvement from the previous 10-day target.
Enhancing Customer Experience
Customer service is another key area of focus. Sassa aims to resolve 90% of customer inquiries within five working days and 80% of disputes within 14 working days by 2026/27.
