More people get SASSA grants than voted: What does that tell US?

The latest count for SASSA grants looks like so. Including the ‘temporary’ eight-million R370 Social Relief of Distress, total numbers stand at 26 million. Against Stats SA’s mid-2026 population estimate of 63.5 million, that’s about 45% on some form of social welfare.

Meanwhile, roughly 15-million South Africans voted in the local government elections on 4 November. The IEC reports 29.2-million registered voters and turnout of about just 52%. Therefore, grant payments outnumber ballots cast by very nearly 2 to 1, closer to 42%.

SASSA GRANTS VERSUS VOTERS

With official results published yesterday, Sunday 8 November 2026, the ANC won 30.76% and the DA 24.64%. That’s 15 percentage points down on the ANC’s 2021 local result. Fikile Mbalula called it ‘catastrophic.’ Voter apathy, among many things, is being blamed for the ANC’s reversal of fortunes.

However, the turnout of about 52% is in fact higher than in the 2021 local elections (roughly 46%) but below the 58.6% in the 2024 general election that saw establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU). Meanwhile, grievances with the state of South African Social Security Agency grants is another plausible reason.

NO TOP-UPS AND MORE REVIEWS

For example, beneficiaries of SASSA grants saw no October top-up for the first time in two years. 2025’s increase for ‘core’ recipients was 5.9%. But in 2026, due to treasury pressure, it was just 4.8%. Nearly 57 000 SASSA grants were suspended between April and June, with the MTBPS signalling even more reviews on the way.

Of course, SASSA grants fall under a national competency. Local elections are more about municipal services like water, electricity, refuse and infrastructure. However, the parallels between dissatisfaction on a micro and macro level are undeniable.  

PARALLELS WORTH CONSIDERING

SRD R370 recipients are mostly unemployed working-age adults. If many are among the people who stayed home, that’s a big non-voting bloc. Government’s own data suggest they are the group least tied to the ANC’s traditional voter base.

Then there’s the SASSA pensioner vote, about 4.2 million of them. Recipients of the Old-Age Grant generally turn out more reliably, thanks to special voting allowances. If they’re apathetic about the ineffective grant increases, the effect would be considerable.

SASSA GRANTS VERSUS SERVICE DELIVERY

Which raises the issue of SASSA dependence versus party loyalty. Nearly half the country gets grants, and yet the ANC still lost 15 percentage points. That suggests voters don’t see a SASSA grant as a reason to stay loyal.

Fikile Mbalula perhaps summed it up best at the election results announcement: “The ANC successfully liberated black South Africans and gave them the right to vote. But that is not enough to get their votes any more. The ANC needs to ensure that it governs well and provides people with quality services to maintain their support,” he concluded.

But what do you think? Could unhappiness over SASSA grants play a role in the mindset of voters? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …