Cape town: The Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA) have been recognized for their notable performance during the 2024/2025 financial year. Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe presented the annual reports to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in Parliament, highlighting key achievements and ongoing efforts to improve services for vulnerable populations.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister Tolashe emphasized the sector’s dedication to enhancing services for those in need and ensuring food security for vulnerable households. She highlighted efforts to stabilize the sector by filling critical posts in the department and its entities. The social assistance program saw its largest expansion, reaching over 28 million eligible individuals, including 13.1 million children benefiting from the Child Support Grant and 4.1 million recipients of the Old Age Grant.
In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, SASSA allocated R267 billion towards social grants, including the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress, which supported over nine million beneficiaries. The agency also noted an increase in regular social grants, with beneficiaries rising from 19.1 million in March 2024 to 19.2 million in March 2025. Despite these successes, Tolashe acknowledged persistent challenges and committed to improving customer experience and addressing beneficiaries’ issues.
Minister Tolashe, along with key executives, conducted outreach across the country to gather feedback from customers and frontline employees. This initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. SASSA Acting CEO Brenton Van Vrede reported significant progress in combating fraud and corruption, with 478 out of 483 cases resolved. Collaborative efforts with law enforcement led to several arrests related to fraudulent activities and misuse of SASSA cards.
Van Vrede also noted that SASSA processed 1.8 million grant applications, surpassing the target of 1.6 million, and achieved a 98% success rate in processing COVID-19 SRD applications, exceeding the 95% target. The sector remains focused on tackling poverty and ensuring that no one is left behind.