SASSA confirms that the Old Age Grant will not be cancelled, dismissing misleading social media posts and urging beneficiaries to rely on official sources.
SASSA Grant: SASSA has strongly denied recent claims circulating on social media suggesting that the Old Age Grant will be suspended from May 2025 if beneficiaries fail to update their documents.
The widely shared posts and screenshots, particularly a message originating from an unreliable website (amritavidyalayam.in), warned that elderly beneficiaries would lose access to their grants unless they submitted new documents by 30 April 2025. However, SASSA has labelled this information as false and misleading.
“As SASSA, we would like to confirm that the message is incorrect and fake,” the agency stated emphatically on Wednesday. “This message is mischievous, and we urge our beneficiaries not to panic, as no grant will be cancelled.”
No Old Age Grant Will Be Cancelled, Says SASSA
The agency assured South Africans that no blanket cancellations will occur. Only grants that are legitimately due for routine review may require document updates, and beneficiaries are contacted directly through official communication when that happens.
SASSA national spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi urged the public to ignore sensationalist posts and instead rely on SASSA’s official social media platforms or contact the agency directly to verify any updates.
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False Information Sparks Unnecessary Panic
The agency expressed concern about the psychological impact such hoaxes can have on elderly grant recipients.
“Before anyone can share any information pertaining to social grants, they must first verify its authenticity to avoid disseminating false information that may cause anxiety and stress to our beneficiaries,” Letsatsi added.
With over 19 million South Africans dependent on social grants, including the elderly, disabled, and children, spreading misinformation could lead to widespread panic and confusion.
What Beneficiaries Should Do
SASSA encourages all beneficiaries and the public to:
- Verify information via the official SASSA social media pages
- Contact SASSA directly at 0800 60 10 11 or email GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
- Avoid forwarding or sharing unverified messages on WhatsApp, Facebook, or other platforms
“We appeal to all South Africans to stop these acts and our beneficiaries to be vigilant and cautious at the information they consume,” the agency concluded.
SASSA’s response serves as a strong reminder that only official channels should be trusted when it comes to updates about grants. No Old Age Grant will be cancelled due to document issues unless a recipient is specifically informed by the agency. Don’t fall for the fear — stay informed, stay secure.
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