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The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, has praised her department, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA) for improving performance and accountability during the 2024/2025 financial year.
Speaking in Parliament, Pretoria, on 08 October 2025, Minister Tolashe said the sector had “turned the tide” by enhancing service delivery and protecting the dignity of vulnerable South Africans.
What Happened
Minister Tolashe presented the annual performance reports of the DSD, SASSA, and NDA to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. She said the department had made progress in stabilising operations and filling critical posts.
According to Tolashe, the success was driven by teamwork and dedication. “Our officials worked very hard to support the needy and put food on the tables of vulnerable households,” she said.
The social assistance programme achieved its largest expansion to date, reaching over 28 million beneficiaries. Of these, 13.1 million received the Child Support Grant, while 4.1 million benefited from the Old Age Grant.
“We remain focused on our commitment to tackle child and adult poverty now and in the future,” Tolashe added.
Official Response
Reflecting on SASSA’s performance, Minister Tolashe said the agency spent R267 billion on social grants in 2024/2025, including the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant, which reached over 9 million people. She added that normal social grants grew by 0.6%, serving 19.2 million beneficiaries by March 2025.
However, she admitted that challenges remain. “We continue to address issues raised by beneficiaries and to improve the customer experience,” she said.
The Minister also stressed the Integrated Community Outreach Programme, which expands SASSA’s reach to rural and underserved areas.
Meanwhile, SASSA Acting CEO Brenton Van Vrede reported strong progress in the fight against fraud and corruption. The agency finalised 478 of 483 reported cases, leading to several arrests of officials and money lenders found with SASSA cards. “We remain committed to cleaning up the system,” Van Vrede said.
Community Impact
According to Tolashe, these efforts have restored public confidence and improved efficiency within SASSA. “We have achieved real progress in reducing irregular expenditure and strengthening accountability,” she said.
The agency also processed 1.8 million grant applications, exceeding its target of 1.6 million, and achieved a 98% success rate in processing Covid-19 SRD applications.
In addition, SASSA finalised 336 of 370 disciplinary cases, with 16 officials dismissed for misconduct. “We cannot rest on our laurels,” Tolashe concluded. “We must continue improving services for the people.”
