Johannesburg – Four South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials found guilty of various forms of misconduct, including fraud and corruption, have been fired.
Commenting on the matter on Sunday, 25 October 2025, SASSA Chief Executive Officer Themba Matlou said he “welcomed the recent dismissal of four officials found guilty of various forms of misconduct, reaffirming the agency’s determination to root out fraud, corruption and all forms of wrongdoing within the social grant administration system”.
He said the dismissals send “a clear and unequivocal” message that SASSA will not tolerate any conduct by its officials that undermines the integrity of the social security system, compromises public resources or betrays the trust of millions of South Africans who depend on social assistance.
“The dismissal of these four officials demonstrates that our efforts to strengthen accountability and protect the social grant system are yielding tangible results,” said Matlou.
“We are sending a clear message to every official that no one is above the law, no one is beyond accountability, and no one will be allowed to abuse their position at the expense of vulnerable beneficiaries and the South African taxpayer.”
Matlou emphasised that the agency’s anti-fraud strategy was increasingly delivering on its objectives, enabling SASSA to strengthen its capacity to detect, prevent, investigate and resolve fraud and misconduct through appropriate consequence management.
He said the agency was moving beyond merely identifying irregularities to ensuring that allegations were investigated, disciplinary processes were concluded, and appropriate action was taken against officials found guilty of transgressions.
“Our anti-fraud strategy is coming to fruition,” said Matlou.
“We are strengthening our systems, closing loopholes, pursuing allegations of wrongdoing, and ensuring that those found guilty face the consequences of their actions.
“This is what accountability looks like in practice. We will not allow individuals to turn a public institution entrusted with the welfare of our people into a vehicle for personal gain.”
Matlou highlighted the progress made in dealing with cases of alleged misconduct and fraud involving SASSA officials.
Since April 2025, the agency has received 134 cases, of which 106 have been finalised, while 28 remain pending finalisation.
Of the 106 finalised cases, 65 officials have been dismissed, underscoring the seriousness with which SASSA approaches disciplinary action and consequence management.
Other cases resulted in sanctions that included written warnings, final written warnings and suspensions without pay. In some instances, officials resigned during the disciplinary process.
Sixteen of the finalised cases were withdrawn, while four officials were found not guilty.
Matlou stressed that the agency remains committed to fair and procedurally sound disciplinary processes, ensuring that every case is handled on its merits and that officials are afforded the applicable rights in terms of established procedures.
A provincial breakdown of dismissals recorded since April 2025 shows that the Eastern Cape has recorded the highest number, with 19 officials dismissed during the period under review.
Mpumalanga and Gauteng follow, with 13 dismissals each, while KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 11 dismissals.
The SASSA CEO said the figures reinforce the need for consistent vigilance across all provinces and operational units, adding that the Agency will continue strengthening internal controls, oversight mechanisms and investigative capacity wherever risks are identified.
Matlou also expressed concern over death threats received by SASSA officials in the course of dealing with cases involving alleged transgressions and misconduct.
He condemned any attempt to intimidate, threaten or obstruct officials who are carrying out their responsibilities in protecting the integrity of the social grant system.
Matlou added that the Agency would continue to support officials who act within the law and in the public interest, while ensuring that allegations of misconduct are handled through established investigative, disciplinary and law-enforcement processes where applicable.
The CEO acknowledged that the fight against fraud requires sustained commitment, professional courage and cooperation across the Agency, especially where officials face intimidation or resistance while carrying out their duties.
He committed SASSA to tightening its controls, strengthening fraud prevention and detection, improving the investigation and resolution of reported cases, and ensuring that consequence management is applied consistently against officials found guilty of wrongdoing.
