In an effort to enhance service delivery and resolve persistent infrastructure issues, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has allocated R14 million in the 2026–2027 fiscal year to evaluate the state of its offices nationwide.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a virtual briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development by Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe, her deputy Ganief Hendricks, and SASSA CEO Themba Matlou.
The briefing came after the Committee’s oversight visit to SASSA offices in KwaZulu-Natal in October 2025. According to the agency, “one of the recommendations by the Portfolio Committee was for Minister Tolashe to ensure that the Department of Social Development develops legislative and/or policy mechanisms that will enable SASSA to build its own offices if it manages to secure vacant land.”
According to Minister Tolashe, SASSA services must be provided from facilities that are compliant, safe, and easily accessible.
“We must be clear on one point: the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, including older people, people with disabilities, and families who rely on social assistance as their only source of income, suffer when an SASSA office is unable to operate effectively, compromising the Batho Pele Principles.”
According to her, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is still in charge of state-owned offices, even though the SASSA Act of 2004 permits the agency to look into ways to acquire and manage property with ministerial approval.
This arrangement, which was meant to guarantee coordinated management, has encountered “procurement delays, Occupational Health and Safety concerns, and general infrastructure challenges,” according to Tolashe.
These circumstances erode public trust in the system and compromise the quality of services offered to beneficiaries.
“We are not sitting on our laurels; hence we have started reviewing the current property arrangements, strengthening infrastructure planning, improving coordination across all spheres of government and ensuring that SASSA offices provide services in facilities that meet the standards our people deserve,” she stated. The Department is “working tirelessly to address these challenges” and is interacting with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the National Development Agency, municipalities, and traditional leaders.
Additionally, Matlou provided an update on KwaZulu-Natal, stating that offices in the Pietermaritzburg District, Pongola, Mooi River, Ixopo, the Regional Office in Durban, uMzimkhulu, Mandeni, and Verulam have been approved.
“We are pleased to inform the committee that since then, we have taken swift action to guarantee that we have sufficient offices to guarantee effective service delivery.
Verulam’s Pietermaritzburg and Pongolo Districts have been promoted. The 2026–2027 fiscal year will see the finalization of funding for uMzimkhulu, Ixopo, Mooi River, and Mandeni, he stated.
Matlou gave the Committee the assurance that urgent attention is being given to all SASSA offices nationwide, and efforts are being doubled to guarantee proper maintenance.
The R14 million allotted will be used to evaluate the state of SASSA office space in order to inform the organization’s future Infrastructure and Maintenance Plan.
