The Portfolio Committee on Science, Innovation and Technology has called for the urgent use of science and technology to resolve ongoing challenges affecting the payment of social grants.
Speaking during a Social Services Cluster media briefing in Parliament, committee Chairperson Ms Lusizo Makhubela emphasised that South Africa has the expertise and institutional capacity to address technical inefficiencies that continue to disrupt service delivery to grant beneficiaries.
She said government must strengthen collaboration with entities such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to develop reliable, secure and efficient digital systems that support the administration of social grants.
South Africa’s social protection system, one of the largest on the continent, has in recent years faced difficulties linked to data migration and digital coordination. Ms Makhubela noted that these challenges can be addressed through better integration of technology and innovation.
“Digitisation has the potential to transform the delivery of social grants, but this opportunity has not yet been fully realised,” she said. “The country has advanced scientific capabilities that must be utilised to ensure that systems function effectively and without disruption.”
The committee stressed that improved coordination between government departments, research institutions and technology partners is essential to avoid fragmented implementation and to maximise the impact of digital solutions.
Ms Makhubela also highlighted the importance of ensuring that transitions within the system, including the migration from SASSA’s yellow cards to Postbank black cards, are managed in a manner that does not disadvantage beneficiaries.
She called on the CSIR to play a leading role in developing modern, locally driven solutions, including secure biometric systems that can improve accuracy and safeguard public funds. She also reiterated that a more coordinated and innovation-driven approach is critical to strengthening service delivery and protecting the integrity of the social grant system.
Sibongile Maputi
26 May 2026
Arrange a tour