SASSA’s eLife Certification portal, crucial for verifying grant beneficiaries, faced significant technical glitches on April 23, 2026. The disruptions caused widespread frustration among users trying to complete their biometric verification. These issues stemmed from system integration failures with other government departments.
By mid-April, over 13,000 people had successfully completed the certification process online. However, many others reported technical errors, including failed profile picture verification and authentication message timeouts. SASSA administers more than 19 million grant payments monthly across South Africa, making these glitches particularly concerning.
The eLife Certification system was rolled out on March 30, 2026. It is a legal requirement under the Social Assistance Act and aims to clamp down on fraud within the social assistance framework. Beneficiaries flagged for immediate certification must comply within a stipulated timeframe to avoid delays or suspension of grants.
Officials have stated that failure to certify may lead SASSA to interpret non-compliance as an indication that the beneficiary is deceased or fraudulent. Despite the complaints, SASSA maintains that the platform is largely functional. Andile Tshona from SASSA commented on the situation: “For some, the process has turned into a frustrating routine.”
Users expressed anxiety over potential delays in grant payments due to these certification issues. The next grant payment dates are set for May 5 for Older Persons, May 6 for Disability, and May 7 for Child Support. Any disruption—especially temporary—can have serious consequences for those relying on these funds.
SASSA’s official statement highlighted that the success of eLife Certification depends on the system interface with other departments. They acknowledged the glitches but emphasized ongoing efforts to resolve them swiftly. The certification drive is part of SASSA’s broader digital transformation agenda aimed at improving service delivery and achieving estimated savings of R3 billion over the next two years.
The agency encourages beneficiaries to complete certification online to avoid costly trips to local offices. However, many remain apprehensive about the reliability of this digital process given recent events. Yet, officials assure users that they are working diligently to restore full functionality.
