The verification process and the biometric registration of social grant beneficiaries were progressing, said the Portfolio Committee on Social Development when it visited KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
As part of its three-day oversight visit to the province, the Committee met with the National Development Agency (NDA) in Durban on Thursday to assess the NDA’s role in supporting local civil society organisations through grant funding and non-financial capacity-building support.
The committee stated that the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Beneficiary Biometric Enrolment (BBE) system was implemented on 1 September 2025.
All 82 local offices in the region have been capacitated, with 901 officials trained to operate the system. Approximately 748 officials have already been migrated to the BBE platform, and biometric fingerprint scanners have been issued to every office to enhance the security and efficiency of grant beneficiary registration.
The Sassa KZN’s regional manager, Thamo Mzobe stated that 38 dedicated officials have been deployed at the Records Management Centre to oversee the review of identified cases.
Mzobe stated that the region is currently reviewing 184,828 cases, including those flagged by credit bureaus for economic activity during grant receipt, as well as cases involving multiple bank accounts or duplicate identity document numbers.
To date, 77,287 reviews have been completed - representing a 77% completion rate. The remaining 107,541 cases are under active review, with finalisation targeted by the end of the current financial year.
Bridget Masango, the committee chairperson, highlighted the importance of these digital systems in boosting the integrity and improving the efficiency of the country’s social assistance framework.
During the oversight visit this week, the committee conducted a site inspection at the Sassa local office in KwaDukuza, where they spoke with front-line staff and observed daily operations. Masango said the engagement opened their eyes to the legal and regulatory framework that enables the work of government to happen.
Masango said that on Wednesday, the committee heard the plight facing senior citizens and social grant recipients in eMandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, following the phasing out of traditional pay points.
“Many of them told the committee how the recent changes have negatively affected their ability to access grants safely. Residents emphasised that the former pay points had served as a critical link in the grant distribution system, particularly for the elderly. Since their removal, many grant recipients now face longer travel distances to alternative collection points such as ATMs and retail stores,” she said.
Masango said that concerns were also raised about safety, as elderly beneficiaries were vulnerable to theft and exploitation when collecting grants in public areas. Many older citizens lack the digital literacy required to use ATMs or electronic payment systems effectively.
“The committee noted with concern the negative impact of these changes on grant beneficiaries. The committee will speak with the Minister of Social Development and Sassa to develop workable and sustainable solutions to alleviate the ongoing challenges,” she said.
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