Sassa Dismisses Social Media Rumours: Old Age Grants Will Continue in May

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has reassured pensioners and the public that Old Age Grant payments will continue as normal in May 2025, putting to rest viral social media posts that suggested otherwise.

Earlier this month, a series of messages spread rapidly across WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), claiming that elderly beneficiaries would lose their grants unless they updated personal documents before April 30, 2025.

The result? Widespread panic among vulnerable citizens who rely on their monthly grant to survive.

But Sassa has now firmly set the record straight.

“As Sassa, we would like to confirm that the message is incorrect and fake. This message is mischievous, and we urge our beneficiaries not to panic, as no grant will be cancelled,” the agency said in a statement.

No Blanket Cancellations – Only Targeted Reviews

Sassa explained that while it does periodically review certain types of grants, those affected are personally notified in advance. The process is routine and affects only selected beneficiaries based on specific circumstances.

“Sassa only reviews grants that need to be reviewed at a particular time and that is communicated to the beneficiaries whose grant is to be reviewed before any action is taken,” the agency added.

This means if you have not been directly contacted by Sassa, you do not need to worry or take any action.

Sassa Urges Public to Ignore Fake Posts

Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi condemned the spread of fake news, calling it “deeply unfortunate” and highlighting how harmful misinformation can be to elderly grant recipients.

“We appeal to our beneficiaries to only rely on credible sources of information on our official social media pages,” he said.

He encouraged South Africans to always verify information before sharing it online — especially when it involves sensitive matters like grant payments.

If you’re an Old Age Grant recipient, there is no deadline, no document update required by April 30, and no risk of losing your grant in May based on these fake social media claims.

Stay informed through official Sassa communication channels, and don’t let misinformation cause unnecessary stress.

{Source: IOL}

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