Ray Leathern

South Africa

Editor and Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

The forgotten social grant: 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid

5 days ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid is a stipend like no other offered by the South African Social Security Agency. As the name suggests, it is paid in addition to a beneficiary’s existing government grant. So, who is eligible for 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid, how much does it pay, and how can you go about securing it? Well, 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid is provided only to the neediest SASSA recipients. Therefore, it is only available to Disability, Older Persons, Care Dependency and War Veterans grant beneficiaries.
6 reasons why SASSA will deny your grant in 2025

5 days ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Last month, it was announced that SASSA will deny your grant in 2025 for an entirely new reason. The agency put out a press release saying it was starting ‘targeted biometric verification’ for those with unverified accounts. Instead of following the usual three-month-notice period for grant reviews, certain clientele were simply not paid their SASSA grants in May.
SASSA Children’s grants for June 2025 to be paid out this week

6 days ago | sapeople.com | Ray Leathern

Here’s everything you need to know about the SASSA Children’s grants for June 2025, which will be paid out on Thursday, 5 June. Each month, the government allocates billions from taxpayer funds to support financially struggling parents in South Africa. Despite earlier uncertainty surrounding the Finance Minister’s 2025 budget, the government has upheld April’s above-inflation grant increases.
SASSA Children’s grants for June 2025 payout this WEEK

6 days ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Here’s all you need to know about SASSA Children’s grants for June 2025, paying out this week on Thursday 5 June 2025. Every month, billions in social welfare is set aside from taxpayer funds to support financially distressed parents in South Africa. And even though there was some uncertainty over Finance Minister’s 2025 budget, the good news is April’s above-inflation grant increases have not been reversed.
SASSA Older Person grants in June 2025 disbursed this WEEK

6 days ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

SASSA Older Person grants in June 2025 will be disbursed this week, on Tuesday 3 June 2025. And not a moment too soon, following the uncertainty over Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget.
GOOD news for retiring South African expats in 2025

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

The two-pot savings scheme offers retiring South African expats one big advantage over regular citizens. Retiring South African expats are able to access their two-pot savings immediately, thereby sidestepping the three-year lock-in rule. As we’ve already reported, ever since the two-pot retirement system was introduced back in September 2024, fund member have withdrawn billions in funds. This is despite financial advisors decrying the long-term effects of saving efficacy.
Future of SASSA grant for pregnant women hangs in the balance

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

Did you know that a SASSA grant for pregnant women has been on the table for some time now? First tabled in 2012, it’s known as the Maternal Support Grant (MSG), and it’s a shame it has been in limbo for more than a decade. At its heart, a SASSA grant for pregnant women hopes to address the fact that nearly one-third of children born in South Africa are stunted. This is due to poor nourishment of the mother.
How fast do South Africans drive? VERY, finds new report

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

How fast do South Africans drive exactly? Well, speaking subjectively, I’d argue ‘very fast.’ South Africa is blessed with a lot of wide-open space and high-quality roads. Not to mention plenty of affluence for a high percentage of the population to drive good cars. And don’t get us started on the minibus taxis, which can time travel with double the legal passenger allotment on board. Nevertheless, a UK-based company, MoneySuperMarket, has introduced some science into the equation.
Operation New Broom cleans up for Home Affairs

1 week ago | sapeople.com | Ray Leathern

Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber insists that Operation New Broom at Home Affairs is a technology-driven initiative. However, South Africa arrests, convicts, deports, and bans all illegal immigrants from reentering the country, regardless of how you view the issue. Launched last week, Operation New Broom uses biometric data technology. It verifies residents’ immigration status through digital ID photos and fingerprints, eliminating the risk of fraudulent documents like the old green mamba ID booklet.
Legality of 2025 fuel levy increases challenged

1 week ago | thesouthafrican.com | Ray Leathern

The legality of Budget 3.0’s 2025 fuel levy increases will be challenged in the National Assembly. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced his third fiscal framework this month, but this one won’t be accepted without a fight either. According to a post on Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) social media, proposed fuel levy increases are unlawful.