Social grant recipients with undisclosed additional incomes have until end of July to tell SASSA

CAPE TOWN - Social grant recipients, who allegedly have additional income sources, have until the end of July to present their cases to the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA).

If not, their grants will be permanently cancelled and, depending on their circumstances, a fraud investigation will be opened.  

At least 210,000 grant recipients are under investigation for having possible undisclosed additional incomes.    

Head of communications for SASSA, Paseka Letsatsi said recipients are obligated to inform them of any changes to their employment status.

"We are still at the cordial stage and people must not be afraid to come forward so that we move them. We have not escalated this matter any higher. We are just engaging with them, and we believe that they will come forward and do the right thing."

Letsatsi added that the threshold for those receiving the permanent grant is R65,000 per annum.

"We have suspended the grant; we have not stopped it permanently. Secondly, if we have to escalate, unfortunately, then we would have to take the file to the South African Police Services for an investigation to happen and for some of the extra measures to be taken."