The Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, along with the deputy minister, Ganief Hendricks, and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO, Themba Matlou, briefed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the measures taken to address infrastructure challenges at some SASSA offices.
The briefing, held virtually on 11 March 2026, was in response to the committee’s recommendations following an oversight visit to some SASSA offices in KwaZulu-Natal in October 2025.
One of the recommendations was for Minister Tolashe to ensure that the Department of Social Development develops legislative and/or policy mechanisms that to enable SASSA to build its own offices if it managed to secure vacant land.
Addressing members of the portfolio committee, Minister Tolashe emphasised that SASSA services were essential and should be delivered from safe, accessible, and compliant facilities.
“We must be clear on one point: When a SASSA office cannot operate effectively, it is not the state that suffers – it is the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, including older persons, persons with disabilities and families who rely on social assistance as their only source of income, thereby compromising the Batho Pele Principles,” Minister Tolashe explained.
While the SASSA Act of 2004 mandated the agency, with the approval of the minister, to deviate and consider other mechanisms to acquire and manage immovable property during its operations, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure remained the custodian of state property in providing office accommodation on behalf of SASSA, the minister added.
This arrangement was initially to ensure coordinated management of government property but there had been numerous challenges such as procurement delays, occupational health safety concerns and general infrastructure challenges, Minister Tolashe said.
“These conditions undermine the quality of service provided to beneficiaries and erode public confidence in the system. We are working tirelessly to address these challenges, in consultation with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the National Development Agency, municipalities, and traditional leaders,” the minister said.
“We have commenced reviewing the current property arrangements, strengthening infrastructure planning, improving coordination across all spheres of government, and ensuring that SASSA offices provide services in facilities that meet the standards our people deserve,” she added.
Detailing the progress report as per the recommendation of the portfolio committee oversight on KwaZulu-Natal, Matlou informed the committee that in KwaZulu-Natal approval had been granted for the Pietermaritzburg District, Pongola, Mooi River, Ixopo, the Regional Office in Durban, uMzimkhulu, Mandeni and Verulam.
“We are happy to brief the committee that we have since moved with speed in ensuring that we have adequate offices that will ensure efficient service delivery,” Matlou said.
The Pongolo and Pietermaritzburg districts, and Verulam have been advertised, while the funding for uMzimkhulu, Ixopo, Mooi River and Mandeni would be finalised in the 2026/2027 financial year, the SASSA CEO added.
In conclusion, Matlou assured the members of the portfolio committee that all SASSA offices across the country were receiving urgent attention and efforts were being doubled to ensure proper maintenance.
Moreover, he said, R14-million had been set aside in the 2026/2027 financial year to assess the conditions of SASSA office accommodation to inform the Infrastructure and Maintenance Plan going forward.