On Friday, 3 October 2025, the South African Social Security Agency confirmed that a technical problem had disrupted some old-age grant payments the previous day. While SASSA sent payment files on schedule, a downstream error in the payment chain meant a group of pensioners did not see their funds reflect in time. By Friday, SASSA said the issue had been fixed and assured beneficiaries that delayed payments were being released.
SASSA added that technical teams from both Capitec and PayInc worked through the night to clear the fault as a top priority. All three parties issued apologies to affected beneficiaries, acknowledging the anxiety and inconvenience caused.
SASSA Fixes Social Grant Payment Glitch Affecting Capitec UsersQuick Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened | A technical glitch delayed some old-age grant payments on Thursday, 2 October 2025. |
| Who was affected | An estimated 15,000 beneficiaries, largely those whose grants pay into Capitec accounts. |
| Cause | A payments failure between PayInc (the national clearing house, formerly BankservAfrica) and Capitec. |
| Status on Friday, 3 October | Issue resolved; outstanding grants released for payment. |
| Apologies | SASSA, Capitec and PayInc issued apologies and committed to mitigation to prevent recurrence. |
| If you still have problems | Contact Capitec on 0860 10 20 43 and the SASSA call centre on 0800 60 10 11. |
| Official site | https://www.sassa.gov.za |
What caused the delay
The interruption occurred between PayInc, the payments clearing house (still widely recognised by its former name, BankservAfrica), and Capitec. In practical terms, SASSA’s internal processing completed as normal, but the handover into the banking and settlement environment failed for a subset of transactions, which is why the problem appeared to be concentrated among Capitec users.
Such failures can occur at the interface points between systems that must reconcile high volumes in tight windows. Once the fault was identified, rollback and reprocessing steps were triggered, and balances began to reflect thereafter.
Who was affected
The disruption was targeted rather than systemwide. Reports placed the number at roughly 15,000 old-age grant beneficiaries, primarily those who receive their grant via Capitec accounts. Other banks and other grant categories were largely unaffected. That said, if you bank elsewhere and still did not see a reflection, you should follow the same escalation steps listed below, as individual account errors are always possible.
Current status and what to expect
- Resolution confirmed: SASSA stated the glitch had been rectified by Friday, 3 October, and that beneficiaries due payment on Thursday would receive their money.
- Bank reflection times: Even after a fix, it can take a short time for funds to reflect due to batch processing and bank cut-offs. Check your balance again before travelling to a pay point or retailer.
- Queue management: If your funds have not yet reflected, do not queue at ATMs or retailers repeatedly. Use the helplines to trace your transaction first.
Step-by-step: what to do if your payment still has not reflected
- Check your balance again on your banking app or via USSD, and look for new SMS alerts from your bank.
- Call Capitec on 0860 10 20 43. Have your ID number, account details and the date your grant was due. Ask for a transaction trace on your October grant.
- Call SASSA on 0800 60 10 11. Provide your ID number and confirm your payment status for October. Ask whether your grant left SASSA successfully and request the reference details they can share.
- Avoid sharing sensitive data: SASSA and banks will never ask for your bank card PIN or one-time passwords. Do not disclose them to anyone.
- If you changed details recently, confirm with SASSA that your banking information and cellphone number on record are current. Mismatched details can delay deposits and verification messages.
- If you still cannot resolve it, visit your nearest SASSA office with your ID and recent bank statement showing no deposit, and request assistance. Consider asking a trusted family member to accompany you if mobility is an issue.
All SASSA services are free: avoid fees and fraud
SASSA reiterated that no one is allowed to charge you to apply for, check, or receive a social grant. Any individual or company demanding payment to “speed up” or “unlock” your grant is acting fraudulently. If approached:
- Do not pay a fee for applications, status checks or card services.
- Do not share your bank card PIN, CVV numbers or one-time passwords with anyone.
- Report scams to SASSA, your bank and the police. Keep any messages or receipts as evidence.
- Use only official channels for updates: the SASSA website, verified social accounts and the toll-free call centre.
What SASSA, Capitec and PayInc have committed to
All parties publicly apologised and stated they are implementing mitigation measures to prevent a repeat. These measures typically include improved monitoring at interface points, enhanced alerting on batch failures, and tested fallback procedures so delayed transactions can be re-queued more quickly. While no payment network can be made risk-free, tighter coordination across the handover from government systems to clearing and bank platforms reduces the likelihood of wide-scale disruptions.
Practical tips for the next payment window
- Check remotely first: Use your banking app or USSD to confirm funds before travelling.
- Go later in the day once you see the deposit; this may help avoid heavy queues.
- Keep your phone on to receive bank alerts and SASSA messages, and make sure your SIM is active.
- Update details early: If you change banks or numbers, update SASSA as soon as possible and avoid last-minute changes near paydays.
- Keep records: File your SMS alerts and keep a simple log of payment dates. If something goes wrong, those notes help call-centre agents trace your transaction quickly.
FAQs
1) I bank with Capitec and still do not see my payment. What should I do first?
Check your balance again, then call Capitec 0860 10 20 43 for a trace, and call SASSA 0800 60 10 11 to confirm your payment status for October.
2) Was this a SASSA system failure?
SASSA indicates its payment files were sent on time. The disruption occurred between PayInc and Capitec, which delayed reflection for a subset of beneficiaries.
3) Will I lose my money if I do not withdraw on the exact day?
No. Once deposited, funds remain in your account. There is no requirement to withdraw on the calendar date.
4) Do I need to re-apply for my grant because of this delay?
No. This was an operational glitch. Your grant remains active if you still meet eligibility rules.
5) Someone offered to help me get my money for a fee. Is that allowed?
No. All SASSA services are free. Do not pay anyone for assistance and report demands for fees to SASSA and law enforcement.
6) How do I protect myself from fraud during glitches?
Never share your card PIN, CVV or one-time passwords. Verify updates on the official SASSA site or hotline, and call your bank directly using its published number.
7) I changed my cellphone number recently. Could that cause a delay?
It can. Make sure SASSA and your bank both have your current number so you receive verification codes and alerts.
8) Where can I get official announcements?
Use the SASSA website and verified social channels for statements on payment schedules and any technical incidents.
Official links and helplines
- SASSA website: https://www.sassa.gov.za
- SASSA call centre: 0800 60 10 11
- Capitec client care: 0860 10 20 43
Final word
The October delay was real, but it was limited and has been resolved. If your payment still has not reflected, follow the step-by-step guidance above and use only official helplines. Remember that SASSA never charges fees for its services and that protecting your bank information is the best defence against opportunistic scams when technical glitches occur.
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