SASSA: FIVE fascinating facts
You probably didn’t know the SASSA accounts for 11% of national budget. That and more fascinating facts here.
Spending by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has been in the spotlight in the run-up to the 2024 elections. The Finance Minister extended SRD grants till 2025 because political experts said it would have been disastrous for the ruling party if it did not.
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SASSA
With the South African Social Security Agency elevated to such an important role in the country, we thought we’d look a little closer at SASSA. Thanks to a wonderful report by GroundUp, we can give you some more context to social relief efforts in South Africa.
1. TEN TIMES MORE SASSA GRANTS PAID
According to the research of GroundUp, back in 1994, just 2.5-million people received social grants. Today, it is 26 million. That represents 10-times more people receiving social relief than at the start of our democracy. As now, back in 1994, these were mostly old-age, disability grants and child-support grants.
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2. 11% OF NATIONAL BUDGET
It’s no wonder then that the South African Social Security Agency accounts for 11% of the country’s R21-trillion national budget. Roughly R232-billion is spent annual on social relief, going to 26-million people. Versus R10-billion at the start of our democracy in 1994.
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3. SASSA GRANT SPENDING HAS QUADRUPLED
Social grant spending, when adjusted for inflation, has effectively quadrupled since 1994. Even though grant amounts are about the same as they were in 1994 when inflation is factored in. As a percentage of South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), grant expenditure has had to increase with a growing population and inflation.
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4. 42% OF SOUTH AFRICANS RECEIVE GRANTS
Staggeringly, about 42% of South Africa’s population receives a social grant. A 6.5% increase compared to 1994.
| Grant Type | Recipients then | Recipients now | Value |
| Child Support Grant | 353 000 in 1998 | 13.2-million in 2022 | R510 in 2023 |
| Foster Child Grant | 42 000 in 1996 | 274 000 in 2022 | R1 130 in 2023 |
| Old Age Grant | 1.63-million in 2022 | 3.9-million in 2022 | R2 090 in 2023 |
| Disability Grant | 600 000 in 1994 | 1 035 000 in 2022 | R2 090 in 2023 |
| Child Care Dependency | 10 000 in 1997 | 157 000 in 2022 | R2 090 in 2023 |
*The COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant accounts for 7.3-million in 2022.
5. IT ISN’T WORKING
Besides the obvious concerns of corruption and thievery within the social security system, the World Bank actually says poverty reduction in South Africa has stagnated since 2011. It says the number of poor people has increased in recent years. In 2014, 55% of the population was living below the poverty line of R992 a month. Today that figure sits at 63% of the population.
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What do you think of the efforts of the South African Social Security Agency? Could they do more to increase social relief, or are social grants a drain on taxpayers’ money? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.