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Sassa spent R1.27bn on grants for legal foreign nationals

Published

The department of social development says the spending in 2025/26 was less than 1% of the total social assistance budget. It gave the figures in a written reply to a parliamentary question from ATM MP Vuyo Zungula.

The money went to permanent residents and refugees. The department said it spent R1.12bn on permanent residents, including R931.5m on old-age grants and R134.5m on child support grants. It spent R150.8m on refugees, made up of R105.8m on child support grants and R32.7m on old-age grants.

The department also reported on social relief of distress (SRD) grants. It paid R10.6m to qualifying foreign nationals, which is 0.03% of the total SRD grant budget.

The department said the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) must by law help qualifying citizens, permanent residents and recognised refugees. It repeated its rule on people in the country unlawfully. The department said: "Sassa does not provide social grants or SRD benefits to illegal immigrants or any person unlawfully present in the republic."

Key facts

Who
Vuyo Zungula (ATM MP who asked the parliamentary question); Department of Social Development (department that replied to the parliamentary question and disclosed the figures); South African Social Security Agency (agency that pays social grants)
What
In a written reply to a parliamentary question from ATM MP Vuyo Zungula, the department disclosed spending on grants for legal foreign nationals, which it said was less than 1% of the total social assistance budget. It reiterated that Sassa does not provide grants or SRD benefits to illegal immigrants.
When
30 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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