Minister Dina Pule Unveils R40-Million SASSA Overhaul — 1,000 New Staff, Extended Hours

Social Development Minister Dina Pule has announced a R40-million overhaul of SASSA, including 1,000 new contract workers, extended office hours, and intensified grant reviews expected to save R1.5 billion this year.

What the R40-Million Overhaul Includes

Minister Pule confirmed the funding will go toward:

• 1,000 new 3-year contract workers deployed across SASSA offices nationwide to handle the increased workload from the grant review backlog
• Extended office hours at high-volume SASSA offices, including Saturday openings
• Enhanced technology for the eLife Certification system to reduce the 7,779+ complaints about facial recognition failures
• Intensified grant reviews expected to save R1.5 billion by removing ineligible beneficiaries from the system

Why This Overhaul Is Happening Now

SASSA has been overwhelmed by the volume of grant reviews required under the 2026 Integrity Rollout. With over 70,000 grants already suspended in early 2026 and thousands more flagged for review, the agency needed additional capacity to process verifications without disrupting payments to legitimate beneficiaries.

What This Means for Beneficiaries

If your grant is currently under review or you have been unable to complete your eLife Certification, the additional staff and extended hours should help reduce waiting times at SASSA offices. However, the intensified review process means more beneficiaries will be screened for eligibility.

Key Changes to Expect:

• Shorter queues at SASSA offices as additional staff come online
• Saturday service at selected high-volume offices
• Faster eLife Certification as the system is upgraded
• Stricter eligibility checks as SASSA aims to save R1.5 billion

What You Should Do

If your grant is flagged for review, complete the process as soon as possible. The intensified reviews mean that beneficiaries who ignore review requests may face faster suspension. Use the eLife Certification portal or visit your nearest SASSA office.

Sources

• Official statement from the Department of Social Development
• SASSA media briefing, July 2026