Almost 30-million South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant recipients could be automatically enrolled for free basic water and electricity under a new ANC plan, without having to apply or join a queue.
The proposal covers people receiving the Old Age Grant, Child Grant, disability, care dependency and war veterans’ grants, as well as child-headed households and people receiving the SRD grant.
The proposal comes as SASSA beneficiaries enter the September payment cycle, with grants starting from Wednesday, September 2. It also follows the August 31 deadline for beneficiaries to migrate from old Gold Cards to Postbank Black Cards.
Beneficiaries affected by the card migration can see what the Gold Card deadline means for SASSA Child Grant payments.
The ANC included the proposal in its 2026 Local Government Elections manifesto, launched under the theme “Masakhe” ahead of the November 4 elections.
What the ANC plan means for SASSA beneficiaries
Under the proposal, households receiving a SASSA grant would automatically qualify for indigent support and be enrolled for free basic services.
The manifesto states: “No application. No queue.” It proposes delivering the system through a data-sharing agreement with the agency.
The plan would therefore remove the need for qualifying SASSA grant households to repeatedly apply to municipalities for assistance with basic services.
How automatic SASSA enrolment would work
The ANC is proposing a live digital indigent register linked to the SASSA database and municipal valuation rolls.
The proposed register would not expire after six months.
Municipalities would instead review a household when its circumstances change, including through a meter reading, ward committee check or an update recorded by SASSA.
The manifesto describes this as shifting the administrative burden from households to municipalities.
For SASSA Old Age Grant and Child Grant recipients, the proposal could mean qualifying households would no longer have to navigate a separate municipal application process to access free basic services.
The numbers behind the SASSA proposal
SASSA currently pays grants to around 28-million South Africans.
This includes roughly 19-million people receiving traditional grants, including old-age, child support and disability grants, and about 9-million people receiving the monthly R370 SRD grant.
Government has budgeted R86.9 billion for 2026/27 to fund free basic services. The current programme covers 11.2-million households at roughly R647 per household per month.
The ANC has also proposed reviewing the indigent policy within its first year in office.
The party says the review would consider food-basket costs, transport costs and household earnings when determining benefits.
When could free water and electricity become available?
For now, the proposal remains an ANC manifesto commitment, not an existing SASSA or government benefit.
Its implementation would depend on the outcome of the November 4 2026 local government elections and the ability of municipalities to introduce the proposed system.
The ANC says its position in national and provincial government would help coordinate the programme nationally.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also argued that individual councils have limited control over programmes requiring national coordination.
Until any policy changes take effect, SASSA beneficiaries should continue using existing municipal processes when applying for or accessing free basic services.
Beneficiaries can check their current SASSA status through the WhatsApp enquiry channel on 082 601 0111.
Those flagged for a grant review should continue following SASSA’s existing requirements.
Where to get official help: Toll-free Call Centre: 0800 60 10 11 | sassa.gov.za
