18 million people in South Africa fall under the multitudes that receive grants from the South African Social Security Agency monthly. Thousands of people applied for Sassa grants but had their applications rejected, as the social security agency has not managed to administer all the applications received. The South African Social Security Agency offers several permanent social grants to individuals who are deemed deserving of the grant. These permanent grants include the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, Child Support grant, Foster Care Grant, Grant in Aid, War Veterans Grant, and the Care Dependency grant. 

The Sassa grants are available for individuals and families who need it. Applicants will be required to provide information and documentation to support their grant application, which includes Identification Documents, marriage certificates, disability confirmation letters and others. The Department of Social Development (DSD) revealed that from 1 April to 30 September 2022, Sassa received a total of 981 562 grant applications, of which 887 628 were approved.

Of the 581,834 grant applications submitted to Sassa during the same period, 559,176 were approved. Between 1 April and 30 September 2022, 92 098 grant applications were rejected by Sassa. This represents approximately 9% of the total grant applications during this period.

Rejected grant applicants can appeal Sassa’s decision to reject their application. Appeals go to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). It has the power to consider all applications for appeal by an applicant, beneficiary or a person acting on his or her behalf.

The South African Social Security Tribunal has received a record number of appeals in the 2018/19 financial year which saw 2 591 applications being submitted. There has also been a significant increase in the total number of appeals received when compared to the previous year (1 829). The majority of these applications were however received during the 2nd Quarter following the implementation of the Amendment Act

Previously, the ITSSA received an average of 150 appeals per month. Since the implementation of the Social Assistance Amendment Act, the tribunal receives 750 appeals per month.

The Tribunal must adjudicate appeals within a 90-day period from receipt thereof. This is in line with the requirements of the Promotion of Administration Justice Act (PAJA). If the Tribunal fails to adjudicate appeals within 90 days, it creates a litigation risk.