ATOK, Limpopo — Unexplained SASSA grant deductions are causing severe financial distress for Limpopo pensioners, with elderly beneficiaries losing a portion of their monthly income to unknown third parties. Over the past five months, vulnerable older adults in the Atok region have reported unauthorized R200 withdrawals from their old age pensions, leaving them unable to afford basic necessities.
The human cost of these missing funds is stark. One 70-year-old recipient revealed that the continuous depletion of her social grant has led to severe food insecurity, with children in her household going hungry because there is not enough money to buy food. When she sought answers from local SASSA offices, she was told the funds were being redirected to a funeral policy. The pensioner firmly denied having such a policy, noting she only belongs to a local burial society, and expressed deep frustration over the relentless and unexplained monthly debits.
The crisis extends to the Mabotha family, where three aging siblings are bearing the brunt of the financial shortfall. Masotoane Mabotha, 66, alongside his 71-year-old brother and 77-year-old sister, relies entirely on his pension as he is too frail to work. Mabotha emphasized that every single cent is vital for their survival, yet his direct inquiries with the agency have failed to explain where the missing money is going. The siblings are now urgently calling on authorities to halt the deductions before their livelihoods are completely compromised.
Addressing the crisis, SASSA regional spokesperson Chippy clarified the mechanics behind the missing funds, emphasizing that the agency itself does not initiate these specific deductions. Instead, Chippy warned that scammers are actively targeting the elderly by impersonating SASSA officials.
“What we have realized is our beneficiaries would hand over their ID numbers to third parties, like funeral schemes,” Chippy explained. The spokesperson detailed how fraudsters manipulate pensioners by promising increased grant amounts or free groceries in exchange for their identity documents. Some fraudsters even falsely claim to be affiliated with the agency. “As SASSA, we have no mandate, none whatsoever, to work with funeral schemes or any other third party,” Chippy stressed.
The vulnerability of pensioners comes at a time when the agency is grappling with internal misconduct. Earlier this month, SASSA took decisive action by dismissing four officials from its Nebo office in Sekhukhune. These employees were terminated over suspected involvement in a massive fraud scheme valued at R33-million, highlighting the systemic challenges the agency faces in protecting beneficiary funds.
Consequently, the agency is facing a massive administrative backlog. SASSA acknowledged that a severe influx of complaints—primarily originating from the surrounding districts—has significantly prolonged its turnaround time for resolving these deduction disputes. The agency continues to urge all older adults to fiercely protect their identity documents and report any suspicious individuals claiming to represent the social security body.
