SASSA Sets the Record Straight on Social Grants for Asylum Seekers in SA

• SASSA's Executive Manager for Policy Implementation, Brenton van Vrede, confirmed in a Metro FM interview that recognised refugees qualify for all social grants in South Africa
• Van Vrede explained that asylum seekers, who are still awaiting full refugee status from the Department of Home Affairs, can also apply for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant
• The clip sparked an outpouring of frustration from South African taxpayers who say they struggle to access the very grants their taxes fund

A Metro FM interview with a senior SASSA official has set social media alight after confirming that refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa are eligible for a wide range of social grants.

Brenton van Vrede, Executive Manager for Policy Implementation at SASSA, appeared in the studio segment, which was shared on Instagram on 15 October 2026. In the clip, he confirmed that recognised refugees qualify for every social grant SASSA administers, including the Child Support Grant, Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, Foster Care Grant, Care Dependency Grant, and the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

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Van Vrede also clarified that asylum seekers, who are still awaiting a final determination from the Department of Home Affairs, can apply for the SRD grant while their applications are being processed. The Department of Home Affairs also addressed the issue in a “Facts vs Myths” post on Facebook on 17 October 2026.

How SASSA vets refugee grant applications

When pressed on the vetting process, Van Vrede explained that SASSA mirrors the same document-checking approach used for South African citizens. Rather than verifying a national ID, officials confirm whether an applicant holds a valid refugee permit issued by the Department of Home Affairs, along with its expiry date.

He drew a clear distinction between the two categories: a refugee holds formally recognised status, while an asylum seeker is someone still awaiting that final approval.

"They haven't yet gone through that full investigation that Home Affairs would do," he said.

According to Home Affairs, asylum seekers may apply for the SRD grant if they have a valid file number or Section 22 permit, are registered on the Home Affairs database, are aged 18 to 59, reside in South Africa, do not live in a state-funded institution and pass the means test. They must have no other income, UIF payment or social grant. The department described the SRD as a temporary, means-tested grant currently worth R370. Recognised refugees must hold a valid Section 24 refugee permit and pass the same means test, and they cannot receive another social grant, UIF payout or state-funded financial aid at the same time.

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Standard grants require in-person applications at a SASSA office, while the SRD grant can be submitted through the official SASSA SRD portal using an asylum seeker file number or permit details.

South Africans react with frustration

The clip drew thousands of comments from people who felt the system was stacked against taxpaying citizens:

@simplynolu wrote:

"My mother doesn't work and doesn't qualify for that R350 cause they saw the monthly amount I give her so she can eat! They're so quick with South Africans to do due diligence, but with foreigners, yiparty!"

@simranseejiram said:

"In South Africa, you are better off being an asylum seeker than a citizen."

@liziwematloha shared:

"As a taxpayer, I qualify for nothing, even my kids don't qualify for NSFAS."

@cathy.8306 noted:

"He still didn't explain the vetting process. Most of them don't have documents, so how will Home Affairs investigate who these people are?"

@iamzibusiso wrote:

"The enemies of this country have found a loophole to loot this country in a new and creative way. They are squeezing us dry so we go on our knees and beg for their help. This is madness."

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@chepapethegreat asked:

"We are told this country has the best constitution in the entire world. Whose constitution is it?"

@lera131418 added:

"I could do so much with my PAYE."

More on SASSA grants

• Briefly News recently reported on a 67-year-old SASSA grant recipient who built her own mud-brick home while a R34-million government housing project in rural Mbizana sits unfinished.
• A Khayelitsha woman turned her social grant into R18,000 in monthly rental income after saving consistently for a decade.
• SASSA confirmed that four million pensioners will receive two grant payments in October after the November payment date moved forward to 30 October.

Source: Briefly News