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2 clusters · 10 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated

Social grant administration in Namibia and South Africa

Overview

Namibia’s Ministry of Finance announced a new monthly payment schedule for social grants, including old age pensions and disability grants, effective November. This policy replaces previous double payments with equal monthly disbursements, though the total annual amount remains unchanged.

In South Africa, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) revised its November 2026 payment schedule to avoid interference with local government elections. Payments for older persons, disability grants, and child support grants were rescheduled to late October and early November.

Regarding expenditure, Social Development Minister Dina Pule reported that SASSA paid approximately R1.28 billion to legally eligible foreign nationals during the 2025/26 financial year. This figure, which represents less than one percent of the total social assistance budget, includes R1.12 billion for permanent residents and R150.8 million for recognised refugees. Minister Pule emphasized that all assistance is strictly limited to individuals meeting specific legal eligibility criteria.

Entities

South Africa · South African Social Security Agency · Namibia · Namibian Ministry of Finance · Wilson Shikoto

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    SASSA reports R1.28 billion in grants paid to eligible foreign nationals

    SASSA revealed that R1.28 billion in social grants was paid to eligible foreign nationals during the 2025/26 financial year, accounting for less than 1% of the total social assistance budget.

  2. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Namibia and South Africa announce social grant updates

    Namibia is transitioning to a monthly social grant payment structure, while SASSA in South Africa has revised November payment dates to avoid conflict with local elections.

Sources

economist.com.na · ghanamma.com · groundup.org.za · nowinsa.co.za · sanews.gov.za · scrolla.africa · studentroom.co.za · thebrief.com.na · thesouthafrican.com · zaim.com