While cracking down on grants, SASSA gives employees salary increases

One group of South Africans won’t be that negatively impacted by the rising cost of living: South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) employees.

Between 2024 and 2025, the average raise was 6.15%; some employees got more.

SASSA Gives Employees Raises

According to SASSA’s most recent annual report, the salary budget increased to R3.7 billion in 2025.

The year before, the agency budgeted R3.4 billion for salaries.

This is a 6.15% increase across the board.

But some employees walked away with more.

The average salary for top management, including the agency’s CEO and department heads, increased by 33%.

In 2024, top management’s average salary was R1.6 million.

In 2025, that increased to R2.2 million.

More of SASSA’s employees also started earning above R1 million in 2025.

In 2024, only senior management and top management positions earned more than R1 million a year.

But by 2025, an additional 462 employees started earning more than R1 million a year.

The good news wasn’t limited to senior positions.

Employees categorised as unskilled labour received the biggest raise.

In 2024, when the agency employed 85 unskilled positions, the average salary was R60 000.

By 2025, the number of unskilled positions increased to 308, and the average salary was R106 000, an increase of 76.52%.

Senior management received the smallest raise.

Their average salary increased from R1.27 million in 2024 to R1.34 million in 2025.

However, 3 employees in these positions received performance rewards totalling R470 712.

Employee Level	2024 Average Salary	2025 Average Salary	% Difference
Top Management	R1 652 211	R2 198 847	33.08%
Senior Management	R1 270 918	R1 342 946	5.66%
Professional Qualified	R956 892	R1 017 821	6.36%
Skilled	R523 172	R557 944	6.64%
Semi-Skilled	R328 699	R358 947	9.28%
Unskilled	R60 117	R106 124	76.52%

Compliance at SASSA

SASSA has been cracking down on beneficiaries.

The agency dropped 56 000 beneficiaries in 3 months.

The National Treasury budget also shows the agency has a goal to drop 690 000 beneficiaries.

These moves suggest SASSA is taking compliance seriously.

But as SASSA’s top brass award themselves handsome raises, those working in compliance are leaving.

In 2024, the agency had 10 employees working in fraud and compliance; by 2025, one had left. The agency still needs to fill 34 positions in this department.

Two employees in the internal and risk management teams have also left.

According to the report, common reasons for SASSA’s employees leaving included career growth, various forms of harassment, and emotional burnout because of chronic workplace stress.