SASSA sets aside R14 million for office maintenance and infrastructure upgrades

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has set aside R14 million in the 2026/2027 financial year to assess the condition of its offices across the country, as part of a drive to improve service delivery and address longstanding infrastructure challenges.

The announcement came during a virtual briefing by Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, her deputy Ganief Hendricks, and SASSA CEO Themba Matlou to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday.

The briefing followed recommendations from the Committee’s October 2025 oversight visit to SASSA offices in KwaZulu-Natal.

''One of the recommendations by the Portfolio Committee was for Minister Tolashe to ensure that the Department of Social Development develops legislative and/or policy mechanisms that will enable SASSA to build its own offices if it manages to secure vacant land,'' said the agency.

Minister Tolashe said SASSA services are essential and must be delivered from safe, accessible and compliant facilities.

“We must be clear on one point: When a SASSA office cannot operate effectively, it is not the state that suffers – it is the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, including older persons, persons with disabilities and families who rely on social assistance as their only source of income, thereby compromising the Batho Pele Principles.”

While the SASSA Act of 2004 allows the agency, with ministerial approval, to explore ways to acquire and manage property, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure remains the custodian of state-owned offices, she said.

Tolashe noted that this arrangement, intended to ensure coordinated management, has faced “procurement delays, Occupational Health and Safety concerns and general infrastructure challenges.”

“These conditions undermine the quality of service provided to beneficiaries and erode public confidence in the system.

She said the Department is “working tirelessly to address these challenges” and is engaging with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the National Development Agency, municipalities, and traditional leaders.

''We are not sitting on our laurels; hence we have commenced reviewing the current property arrangements, strengthening infrastructure planning, improving coordination across all spheres of government and ensuring that SASSA offices provide services in facilities that meet the standards our people deserve,” she said.

Matlou also gave an update on KwaZulu-Natal, saying approval has been granted for offices in the Pietermaritzburg District, Pongola, Mooi River, Ixopo, the Regional Office in Durban, uMzimkhulu, Mandeni, and Verulam.

“We are happy to brief the committee that we have since moved with speed in ensuring that we have adequate offices that will ensure efficient service delivery.

Pongolo and Pietermaritzburg Districts, Verulam have been advertised. The funding for uMzimkhulu, Ixopo, Mooi River and Mandeni will be finalised in the 2026/2027 financial year,'' he said.

Matlou assured the Committee that all SASSA offices across the country are receiving urgent attention, with efforts being doubled to ensure proper maintenance.

The R14 million set aside will be used to perform a condition assessment of SASSA office accommodation to inform the agency’s Infrastructure and Maintenance Plan going forward, said Matlou.