As part of a plan to improve service delivery and fix long-standing problems with infrastructure, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has set aside R14 million in the 2026/2027 financial year to check on the condition of its offices across the country.
The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, her deputy Ganief Hendricks, and SASSA CEO Themba Matlou made the announcement during a virtual briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday.
The briefing came after the Committee’s October 2025 visit to SASSA offices in KwaZulu-Natal to check on their work.The agency said, “One of the Portfolio Committee’s suggestions was for Minister Tolashe to make sure that the Department of Social Development creates laws or policies that will let SASSA build its own offices if it can find empty land.”
Minister Tolashe said that SASSA services are very important and should be provided from facilities that are safe, easy to get to, and follow the rules.
“We need to be clear about one thing: when an SASSA office can’t do its job well, it’s not the state that suffers. It’s the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society, like older people, people with disabilities, and families who rely on social assistance as their only source of income. This goes against the Batho Pele Principles.”
She said that the SASSA Act of 2004 lets the agency look into ways to buy and manage property with the minister’s approval, but the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is still in charge of state-owned offices.
Tolashe said that this plan, which was meant to make sure that management was coordinated, has run into “procurement delays, Occupational Health and Safety concerns, and general infrastructure challenges.”
“These conditions make the service less reliable for beneficiaries and make people less confident in the system.”
She said the Department is “working tirelessly to address these challenges” and is working with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the National Development Agency, cities, and traditional leaders.”We are not resting on our laurels; instead, we are reviewing the current property arrangements, making infrastructure planning stronger, improving coordination across all levels of government, and making sure that SASSA offices provide services in facilities that meet the standards our people deserve,” she said.
Matlou also talked about KwaZulu-Natal and said that offices have been approved for the Pietermaritzburg District, Pongola, Mooi River, Ixopo, the Regional Office in Durban, uMzimkhulu, Mandeni, and Verulam.
“We’re glad to tell the committee that we’ve moved quickly to make sure we have enough offices to provide good service.
Verulam, Pongolo, and Pietermaritzburg Districts have all been advertised. He said that the money for uMzimkhulu, Ixopo, Mooi River, and Mandeni would be finalized in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Matlou told the Committee that all SASSA offices in the country are getting urgent attention and that they are working twice as hard to make sure they are well-maintained.
Matlou said that the R14 million set aside will be used to check the condition of SASSA office buildings. This will help the agency make its Infrastructure and Maintenance Plan for the future.
