Newly appointed Minister of Social Development Dina Pule is expected to outline the government’s plans to improve the country’s social development sector and address the ongoing social grants review process during a media briefing next week.
The briefing, scheduled for Tuesday, 21 July 2026, comes as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) faces mounting criticism over long queues, service delays and frustrations experienced by grant beneficiaries at offices across the country.
According to the Department of Social Development, Pule will present her vision and priorities for strengthening the sector, with a focus on improving service delivery, enhancing governance and accountability, and strengthening collaboration across government and social development stakeholders.
She is also expected to provide an update on the implementation of the social grants review process, which has seen thousands of beneficiaries called in to verify that they still qualify for social assistance.
The department said the Minister would reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring that social grants are administered fairly and in line with the Social Assistance Act while protecting public resources through regular beneficiary reviews.
“The Minister will provide an overview of the Department’s strategic direction, including measures to improve service delivery, enhance governance and accountability, strengthen collaboration across the social development sector, and ensure that social assistance continues to reach eligible beneficiaries in an efficient, transparent and dignified manner,” the department said in a media advisory issued on Thursday.
The briefing follows growing public concern over the implementation of SASSA’s nationwide grant review programme.
This week, African Times reported on chaotic scenes outside the SASSA office in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, where hundreds of beneficiaries queued from as early as 3 am in freezing temperatures in the hope of resolving grant-related issues.
Many were turned away after being informed that only a limited number of people would be assisted, prompting angry protests that were widely shared on social media.
The situation in Thokoza highlighted the increasing pressure on SASSA offices across Gauteng as beneficiaries report for grant reviews and electronic life certification, commonly known as eLife Certification.
In response to the complaints, SASSA Gauteng announced several measures aimed at reducing congestion at local offices.
The agency said it had deployed 143 contract workers to branches across the province to improve client flow, reduce waiting times and assist with grant reviews and eLife Certification.
SASSA has maintained that the grant review programme is a legal requirement designed to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries continue receiving social assistance.
Beneficiaries selected for review are notified by SMS and required to visit their nearest SASSA office. The agency has warned that grants may be suspended if beneficiaries fail to complete the verification process.
However, SASSA has acknowledged that some beneficiaries do not receive SMS notifications because their contact details are outdated, while others only visit offices after discovering that their grants have been delayed or suspended.
To improve service delivery, the agency has introduced queue walkers, additional staff training, digital self-service options, community outreach programmes and priority services for elderly people, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.
Pule’s first public briefing as Minister is expected to provide further details on how the government intends to improve the administration of social assistance while addressing growing concerns about the impact of the grant review process on vulnerable South Africans.
