Unlawful selling SASSA queue spots: how vulnerable grant beneficiaries are being charged to jump the queue

There’s been a significant and rather disheartening development concerning the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots at various offices across South Africa. This reprehensible practice sees unscrupulous individuals exploiting vulnerable grant beneficiaries, including the elderly and those with disabilities, by charging them money for a better position in grant application and collection queues. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has strongly condemned this “mushrooming scourge,” vowing to take decisive action against both the perpetrators and any of its own staff found to be complicit in this exploitation.

Key details regarding the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots

• Recent Condemnation: On April 16-18, 2026, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) issued strong condemnations and announced a nationwide crackdown on individuals and syndicates involved in the unlawful selling of queue positions.
• People Involved:
  • Themba Matlou: Current SASSA CEO, who has publicly denounced the practice as “unlawful and a serious exploitation” of vulnerable citizens.
  • Perpetrators: Individuals and organised syndicates acting as “queue marshals” who charge beneficiaries for queue spots.
  • Victims: Primarily elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable grant beneficiaries who rely on social assistance for survival.
  • Potentially Complicit Staff: SASSA has warned that any of its own officials found to be facilitating or ignoring the illegal trade will face severe disciplinary action.
• Places Affected: This issue is widespread, reported at various SASSA service points across South Africa. Specific locations mentioned include Pietermaritzburg (Bombay Road), Alexandra (Johannesburg), and Makhado. The Gauteng regional office also raised alarms.
• Modus Operandi: Opportunists reportedly charge beneficiaries amounts ranging from R30 to R50 (and potentially more) to secure an earlier position in the queue, allowing them to bypass hours of waiting. This often happens right outside SASSA offices, creating an impression of agency complicity.
• Contributing Factors: Long queues, systemic service delivery challenges, high beneficiary volumes, infrastructure limitations, and system inefficiencies at some SASSA offices are acknowledged to create an environment ripe for such exploitation.
• Actions Being Taken by SASSA:
  • Strengthening internal security systems and reinforcing internal controls.
  • Collaborating with law enforcement agencies (e.g., South African Police Service) to identify, investigate, arrest, and prosecute perpetrators.
  • Implementing and accelerating digital solutions, such as the eLife Certification platform, which uses biometric “electronic Know Your Client” (eKYC) technology, to reduce the need for physical visits and queues.
  • Improving queue management systems and reinforcing priority service channels for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
• Reporting Mechanisms: SASSA encourages the public to report any suspected fraudulent or corrupt activities, including the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots, by calling their grants and fraud hotline on 0800 60 10 11 or visiting the nearest SASSA office. Reports can be made anonymously.

A full summary of the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots saga

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is currently battling a widespread and deeply concerning issue: the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots at its offices. This illicit practice, which has been strongly condemned by SASSA CEO Themba Matlou, involves individuals and syndicates charging desperate grant beneficiaries money to secure an earlier position in the often incredibly long queues.

The problem is particularly egregious because it preys on the most vulnerable members of society: the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals who are entirely dependent on social grants for their survival. These opportunists reportedly demand fees, sometimes as low as R30 or R50, from beneficiaries just for the privilege of not having to wait for hours, or even overnight, to access essential services. SASSA has expressed deep concern that these activities, occurring right at the entrance of their offices, could create a false impression that the agency is somehow involved or complicit in the exploitation.

This isn’t an entirely new problem; reports of beneficiaries paying bribes to jump queues at payment points date back several years, with instances recorded in 2017 and 2022 at locations like Mount Frere and Alexandra. However, the recent widespread nature of the SASSA queue spot selling has prompted the agency to launch a vigorous nationwide crackdown, with strong statements issued between April 16 and 18, 2026.

In response, SASSA CEO Themba Matlou has outlined a multi-pronged approach. The agency is strengthening its internal security systems and reinforcing internal controls to prevent such incidents. Crucially, SASSA is also collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators are identified, investigated, arrested, and face criminal charges. Furthermore, Matlou has issued a stern warning to SASSA’s own staff, making it clear that any official found to be facilitating or turning a blind eye to this illegal trade will face swift and decisive disciplinary action.

While condemning the unlawful selling SASSA queue spots, the agency also acknowledges that systemic challenges contribute to the problem. Factors like high beneficiary volumes, infrastructure limitations, and general service delivery inefficiencies often lead to long queues, creating opportunities for exploitation. To mitigate this, SASSA is accelerating its digital interventions, such as the eLife Certification platform (SASSA Services Portal). This online self-service portal allows beneficiaries to verify their status remotely using biometric “electronic Know Your Client” (eKYC) technology, reducing the need for physical visits, travel costs, and congestion at offices. They are also working to improve queue management systems and ensure priority service channels for vulnerable groups. Members of the public are urged to report any suspected fraud or corruption to the SASSA grants and fraud hotline at 0800 60 10 11.

Questions and answers about the SASSA queue spot issue

• Q: What exactly is the “unlawful selling SASSA queue spots” issue about?
  A: It’s about individuals or groups illegally charging money to grant beneficiaries for a place in line at SASSA offices, allowing them to skip ahead of others who have been waiting for hours.
• Q: Who is most affected by this exploitation?
  A: The most vulnerable beneficiaries are targeted, particularly the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who rely heavily on social grants for their livelihood.
• Q: What is SASSA doing to combat this problem?
  A: SASSA is strengthening security, collaborating with law enforcement for arrests, warning its own staff against complicity, and promoting digital solutions like the eLife Certification platform to reduce the need for physical queues.
• Q: How can I report someone who is selling queue spots or other SASSA fraud?
  A: You can report suspected fraud or corruption anonymously by calling the SASSA grants and fraud hotline on 0800 60 10 11 or by visiting your nearest SASSA office.
• Q: Why are the queues at SASSA offices so long in the first place?
  A: Long queues are often caused by high beneficiary volumes, limited infrastructure, and systemic service delivery challenges and inefficiencies within some SASSA offices.
• Q: What is eLife Certification and how does it help?
  A: eLife Certification is an online self-service platform that allows beneficiaries to verify their details remotely using biometric technology. It helps reduce congestion at physical offices, saves beneficiaries travel costs, and makes the process more convenient.
• Q: Are SASSA officials ever involved in this type of fraud?
  A: SASSA CEO Themba Matlou has warned that any SASSA officials found to be facilitating or ignoring the illegal selling of queue spots will face severe disciplinary action, indicating that internal complicity is a concern the agency is addressing.