The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has issued a strong warning to beneficiaries and the general public about the growing spread of fake news and disinformation campaigns targeting the agency’s services, especially across social media platforms.
SASSA clarified that no double grant payments have been approved for June, contrary to recent reports circulating online. These claims, the agency says, are false, misleading, and designed to stir panic or false hope among grant recipients.
“We appeal to our beneficiaries not to expect any double payment in June as stated in various fake news reports,” said Paseka Letsatsi, SASSA National Spokesperson.
“The only official increases were implemented in April following the Finance Ministry’s Policy Statement in March, with another increase planned for October. Anything outside of that is not true.”
SASSA also addressed a second widespread rumour claiming that “New Rules Could Affect Your Pension” from 10 June 2025, with provincial-specific changes. The agency confirmed that no such official announcement has been made and urged citizens to ignore these unauthorised reports.
What has been communicated, according to the statement, is a targeted verification process introduced for the May 2025 payment run. This process applies only to:
- Beneficiaries using alternative identification instead of a standard 13-digit SA ID number.
- Individuals flagged through the bulk means test who may be receiving income in undisclosed bank accounts.
SASSA has reminded all beneficiaries to rely on its verified social media pages and official channels for accurate and up-to-date information. The agency called on the public to avoid spreading unverified claims that cause confusion or distress among vulnerable groups.
