How the government saved R170.7 million through SASSA grant cancellations

Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has revealed that the government has cut R170.7 million in social grant spending

Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has revealed that the government has cut R170.7 million in social grant spending thanks to the Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme.

The minister made this disclosure in a parliamentary reply after DA MP Kingsley Wakelin asked the Treasury about the impact of the programme on departmental performance and service delivery outcomes.

Godongwana said the Targeted and Responsible Savings measures have so far been applied only to two programmes, social grants, through verification checks by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the Public Transport Network Grant.

He said that by December 2025, SASSA had reviewed 291,581 grant beneficiaries, adjusted 8,599 grants, and cancelled 34,661 grants, resulting in total savings of R170.7 million.