Thousands of grants paid to the dead

As taxpayers shell out around R250 billion a year for social grants, tens of thousands of beneficiaries have been receiving money from beyond the grave.

- Oratile Mashilo

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) yesterday said in its audit action plan presentation to parliament's portfolio committee on social development that grants continued to be paid to dead beneficiaries in the past three financial years.

According to the report, 32 917 grants were paid to deceased recipients in 2021-22.

The following year, 26 512 grants were paid to deceased beneficiaries.

In the 2023-24 financial year, Sassa paid 15 204 deceased beneficiaries.