Parliament, Tuesday, 6 October 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the Department of Social Development’s qualified audit opinion for the 2025/26 financial year.
The committee raised its concerns following a briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the audit outcomes of the department and its entities for the 2025/26 financial year.
Of particular concern were the continued weaknesses in the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) payment system, which are resulting in financial leakages. Among these weaknesses are payments made to people who are employed by government and people who have passed away. The committee said these weaknesses raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of controls and verification mechanisms intended to ensure that social grants are paid only to eligible beneficiaries.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Bridget Masango, said the qualified audit opinion was concerning, particularly given the department’s responsibility for administering social protection programmes and safeguarding public resources. “A qualified audit opinion is not an outcome that the committee can accept as business as usual. We are concerned that weaknesses in the system continue to expose public funds to wastage, particularly where payments are made to people who are no longer eligible to receive social grants,” said Ms Masango, adding that this requires urgent intervention to strengthen the integrity of the social grants system.
“Every rand lost through weaknesses in the system is a rand that could otherwise be directed towards supporting vulnerable South Africans. The department and SASSA must strengthen their verification and control systems to ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are intended,” said Ms Masango.
The committee said it expects the department and SASSA to implement effective corrective measures to address these weaknesses as identified by the AGSA and to strengthen internal controls to prevent improper payments.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS BRIDGET MASANGO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Justice Molafo
Mobile: 081 424 7481
Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
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