The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has started using a new biometric system to check the identity of certain grant beneficiaries. This step is meant to stop fraud and make sure that only the right people receive social grants.
The new system began in April 2025 and is already being used for some groups of people who get grants or are applying for them. It uses facial recognition and fingerprint checks to make sure each person is who they say they are.
Who Needs to Do This?
Not everyone will need to go through biometric verification right now. SASSA says this will mainly apply to:
- People applying for grants who don’t have a 13-digit South African ID number;
- People who are updating their details or whose information needs to be reviewed;
- SRD (Social Relief of Distress) grant recipients flagged for possible identity issues.
Those selected will receive an SMS with a link to complete a facial recognition process. If someone doesn’t have a smartphone, they can visit a nearby SASSA office where staff will help them with the process.
“We are doing this to protect the people who really need these grants,” said SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi. “We want to stop fraudsters and make sure grants don’t go to people who have passed away or used fake identities.”
Why This Is Happening
In the past, there were cases where grants were paid to people who had already died or were not real. This led to a lot of money being lost through fraud.
To solve this, SASSA is now working with the Department of Home Affairs and using their upgraded system to do better identity checks. The new system is faster, more accurate, and will help SASSA find and stop suspicious activity more quickly.
What If Someone Doesn’t Have a Smartphone?
Some people are worried about how this change will affect older people or those living in rural areas without smartphones. But SASSA says no one will lose their grant because of this.
“We are making plans to help people who don’t have access to smartphones,” said Letsatsi. “They can go to certain SASSA offices or mobile service points where staff can help them.”
A Big Step for the Future
This biometric system is part of a larger plan to improve government services and reduce fraud in the social grant system. More than 18 million South Africans rely on these grants each month, so it’s important that the system is fair and secure.
Important Note
SASSA has confirmed that beneficiaries of the SRD R370 grant who are flagged for identity verification will not receive payment dates until the verification process is completed. When checking their status online, many recipients encounter a message stating “Identity Verification Requested.” Until this requirement is fulfilled, grant payments will remain pending, and no disbursement will be made.
Also Read: SASSA Warns of Payment Delays Due to ID Verification
Final Words
SASSA’s new biometric verification is a big step to stop fraud and protect the people who need grants the most. While it may take time to adjust, the goal is to make the system stronger, safer, and more trustworthy for everyone.
