Double grant payment is fake news

With next week’s social grants to be paid, the Woodstock-based Ikamva Labantu non-profit is appealing to the public not to spread misinformation on the payment of social grants.

This comes after a fake news post was circulated earlier this month on social media sites like Facebook and X that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will be paying double social grants in June for senior citizens, disability grants and child support grants. 

SASSA national spokesperson,  Paseka Letsatsi says her organisation can confirm that there has been no announcement made for double grant payments in June. “These reports are untrue and should be rejected with the contempt they deserve,” she says.

She added, “We appeal to our beneficiaries not to expect any double payment in June as stated in various fake news reports, particularly on social media platforms. In line with the Ministry of Finance’s Policy Statement in March, grant increases were announced and came into effect in April, and there will be another increase again in October,” she says.

The Ikamva Labantu organisation which has been around for nearly 62 years works towards supporting vulnerable senior citizens, providing transport for them to access senior clubs, to health care facilities and providing them with nutritional meals. Ikamva Labantu also helps seniors who are not mobile with their Umelwane ("friendly neighbour") initiative to help establish if there is anything they need. They work in areas like Delft, but the majority of their satellite centres are based in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and surrounding areas.

Head of fundraising at Ikamva Labantu, Rowen Bauer, says the elders they serve are vulnerable already and most of them stretch out their pensions to provide financial support to children who are unemployed and to grandchildren. 

Ms Bauer says her organisation has even reported on cases where the senior’s pension is taken away by force by the elder’s family members.

“Misinformation like the story that double pensions were being paid in June, risks our elders misplanning their budgets, or committing to expenses they cannot afford. It also causes our elders stress and aggravates their sense of vulnerability,” she says.

Ms Bauer says that on pension day, the seniors already face an ongoing struggle.

“If they cannot access transport due to finances or lack of physical mobility, they have to rely on people in the community to assist. Those that access Ikamva Labantu's services can request assistance from our team, but this is not available for all the elders in the informal settlement who need it,” she says.

Ms Bauer says the seniors also need to contend with long queues and once they receive their pension, they must be concerned that there are no criminals that are lurking around the area that could accost them for their pension.

Ms Letsatsi appeals to beneficiaries to make use of reliable sources, like their official social media handles are SASSA News on Facebook, @OfficialSASSA on X, and SASSA_Official on WhatsApp. Beneficiaries can also call SASSA’s toll-free number on  0800 60 10 11 or email GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za 

“Social grants are the livelihood of more than 19 million SASSA beneficiaries. When people create and disseminate false information, it creates untold panic and stress to the millions of our vulnerable beneficiaries,” says Ms Letsatsi.