SASSA Dismisses 14 Eastern Cape Officials for Fraud and Corruption

SASSA has dismissed 14 officials in the Eastern Cape for fraud, corruption and related misconduct, and 11 more officials are facing disciplinary hearings. The dismissals are part of a wider national crackdown: SASSA dismissed 43 officials for fraud and corruption in the 2025/26 financial year, according to its report to Parliament's Standing Committee on Appropriations.

What the Officials Are Accused Of

The cases involve allegations of:

• Fraudulent approval of social grants
• Unlawful changes to beneficiaries' banking details
• Other irregular grant administration practices

The misconduct was uncovered at SASSA offices including Komani, Mdantsane, Dutywa, eMaxesibeni (Mount Ayliff), Duncan Village, Zwide and Qonce. SASSA says it has suffered over R3 million in losses because of fraudulent grant administration and payment processes. It has applied for preservation orders to recover the public funds, and all the cases have been referred to SAPS for criminal investigation.

Policing Itself: What This Means for Beneficiaries

The crackdown is a strong signal that SASSA is taking internal fraud seriously. It is also a reminder that no SASSA official will ever ask for your PIN, OTP or card details — anyone who does is a scammer.

• Unauthorised changes to banking details are exactly the kind of fraud being prosecuted. If someone claims they can 'help' you change your banking details, be suspicious.
• If a caller, SMS or app asks for your PIN or one-time PIN, report it to the SASSA fraud hotline on 0800 60 10 11.
• See our Scam Alert page for the warning signs and how to report fraud.
• If you are struggling with a SASSA issue, check our Common Problems guide before paying anyone for help.

Sources

• SABC News — SASSA fires 14 officials for alleged fraud in Eastern Cape
• The Witness — Sassa dismisses 43 officials linked to fraud and corruption
• African News Agency (IOL Reporter) — Sassa fires 14 Eastern Cape officials over social grant fraud