Meet the SASSA employees earning more than R2 million a year

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) spends R3.7 billion on salaries.

On average, the agency’s employees earn R473 703 a year (R39 475 a month).

But a handful of employees make more than R2 million a year.

SASSA Employee Salaries

SASSA employees are some of the richest in the country.

According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) data, the agency’s employees earn more than most.

If the agency were a municipality, it would perform in the top 5. The agency’s average income is higher than the average income in the City of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Tshwane.

Unskilled workers, typically those with a school-leaving certificate, earn R106 124 a year (R8 843 a month).

Workers with matric or a diploma and without much experience earn R358 947 a year (R29 912 a month).

Those with matric, diploma, a degree and work experience earn R557 944 a year (R46 495 a month).

The average salary for lower management is R1 million a year.

However, nine executives, including SASSA’s chief executive officer, earn more than R2 million a year.

SASSA Employees Earning R2 Million a Year

There are nine employees in the Head Office Executive team. According to the agency’s annual report, these employees have an average income of R2 198 847.

Dr Paseka Cornelius Letsatsi (PhD)

Letsatsi is SASSA’s Head of Communications. He got his PhD from the Da Vinci Institute in Lethabong.

In 2014, Letsatsi was embroiled in a corruption scandal over improperly funded projects, which led the National Prosecuting Authority to seize his property. He has since been reinstated in the role.

Mr Tsakeriwa Chauke

SASSA’s Chief Financial Officer, Chauke has been in the role since 2016.

Before becoming the CFO, he was the agency’s general manager of finance.

Chauke is also a pastor. He routinely preaches about wealth creation.

Mr Jabulani Makondo

Makondo is SASSA’s Acting Chief Information Officer.

Before being appointed to executive level, Makondo was a general manager, a position he has held since 2007.

Ms Zodwa Mvulane

Mvulane holds an LLB from the University of the North West.

SASSA appointed Mvulane as executive manager of corporate services in 2025.

But she’s held an executive role at SASSA since 2010.

Before that, she worked at Invest North West as a trade and investment manager.

Mr Brenton Van Vrede

Van Vrede is the Executive Manager of Grants Administration.

In this role, he has backed the use of technology to verify beneficiary details.

He briefly served as the agency’s acting CEO before Themba Matlou got the job.

Ms Raphaahle Ramokgopa

Ramokgopa has served as SASSA’s Executive Manager of Strategy and Business Development since 2012.

For a few months, she stepped away from this role to be the acting CEO of the National Development Agency.