‘Bring back dignity and respect’: New minister vows action on SASSA queues

Pule

Cape Town – Newly appointed Minister of Social Development Dina Pule has acknowledged growing concerns over long queues at South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices, saying government is taking urgent steps to restore dignity and improve service delivery.

Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, Pule outlined the government’s vision and key interventions aimed at advancing South Africa’s social development agenda.

The minister said she had received numerous complaints from members of the public about long waiting times at SASSA offices since taking office and had intervened to determine the cause of the problem.

“In the few days in office, I have received complaints regarding our people standing in long queues in most of our offices and had to step in urgently to understand the cause and seek immediate intervention to bring back dignity and respect,” Pule said.

Addressing concerns over the ongoing social grant review process, Pule said SASSA launched the initiative in 2025 and had conducted public awareness campaigns to explain the importance of complying with social assistance regulations. She acknowledged that the process had caused anxiety and frustration among grant beneficiaries.

However, she stressed that the reviews are a legal requirement under Regulation 30 of Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act of 2004.

Pule explained that SASSA is required to regularly review social grants to confirm that beneficiaries remain eligible, while recipients are legally obliged to report any material changes in their personal circumstances, including their financial or marital status.

She said the reviews ensure that changes in beneficiaries’ financial, medical or personal circumstances are accurately reflected, helping to ensure that grants are paid only to those who qualify.

According to Pule, the review process also protects public funds by preventing wasteful expenditure at a time when government finances remain under pressure.

“Simply put, social grant reviews help ensure that the right grant is paid to the right person and at the right time. Reviews also protect the system against fraud, abuse and incorrect payments,” she said.

Pule added that advances in government data-matching and verification systems have strengthened the state’s ability to identify cases where a beneficiary’s eligibility may have changed, making regular reviews an essential part of safeguarding the integrity of the social assistance system.

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