Minister of Social Development Dina Pollie reported that during the 2025/26 financial year, social grants and disaster relief payments (SRD) amounting to approximately 1.28 billion rand were disbursed to legally entitled foreign citizens.
Pollie presented this information in a written response to parliament after a Member of Parliament from the African Transformation Movement (ATM), Vuyo Zungula, requested details on the amounts of social grants paid to foreigners for the financial year.
Permanent residents receive the largest share
According to Pollie, the largest portion of the estimated expenditure was directed to permanent residents, who received 1.12 billion rand in social grants during the 2025/26 financial year. This amount included 931.5 million rand for old age grants, 134.5 million rand for child care grants, 31.7 million rand for disability grants, 8.4 million rand for dependent care grants, 6.6 million rand for assistance grants, and 3.8 million rand for foster care grants.
Additionally, another 150.8 million rand was allocated for recognized refugees. Of this sum, 105.8 million rand went to child care grants, and 32.7 million rand went to old age grants.
10.6 million rand paid through SRS
An additional 10.6 million rand was paid to foreigners claiming disaster relief grants (SRD). These SRD payments included 9.18 million rand to Lesotho exemption permit holders, 448,810 rand to Zimbabwe exemption permit holders, 962,370 rand to asylum seekers, and 24,420 rand to holders of special Angolan release permits.
In total, the estimated expenditure on grants and SRD payments for these legally entitled categories of foreign citizens amounted to approximately 1.278 billion rand in 2025/26. Pollie noted that these expenditures constitute less than 1% of South Africa's social assistance budget, emphasizing that the agency does not provide social grants to illegally present persons.
Pollie stated: 'SASSA does not provide social grants or SRD benefits to illegal immigrants or any person unlawfully present in the Republic.' She added that 'the Agency's compliance verification processes, including checks with the Department of Home Affairs, are designed to ensure adherence to the legislative framework governing social assistance.'