The Sassa eLife system is back online after technical problems disrupted access for some grant beneficiaries and led to long queues at offices, according to a report in The Citizen supplied by the source material. The South African Social Security Agency said the disruption affected beneficiaries trying to complete eLife Certification through its self-service channel.

The agency said the delays were tied to system interfaces with other government departments that support verification. Sassa has since urged beneficiaries who can access digital tools to use its online services instead of travelling to local offices.

Sassa says system integration problems caused delays

According to the supplied article, Sassa said earlier glitches delayed or interrupted eLife Certification, leaving some beneficiaries unable to complete the process online and increasing pressure at offices. The agency apologised to affected users and said the problem had been resolved by Friday, 10 April 2026.

That matters because the Sassa eLife system forms part of the agency’s digital verification process. Sassa’s official services portal is active and offers online access for grant-related services, while official eKYC pages remain available for status checks and reverification.

Sassa says the platform uses biometric verification through an electronic Know Your Client process. In the source article, the agency said the portal offers a secure way for beneficiaries to complete life certification without needing to stand in line.

Why life certification is important

Life certification is used to confirm that beneficiaries are alive and still qualify for payment. In the source article, Sassa said the process helps protect the integrity of the grants system and reduces payments to people who are not lawfully entitled to receive public funds.

South Africa’s Social Assistance Act provides the legal basis for the administration of social assistance and oversight of grant payments. That broader legal framework is why verification steps such as eLife Certification and eKYC carry weight in the payment system.

Beneficiaries warned not to ignore verification requests

The supplied report says beneficiaries who are flagged for immediate verification must comply within the specified period or risk problems with their grants. Sassa also urged the public to report suspected fraud, saying the aim is to ensure the right grant is paid to the right person at the right time.

On its official FAQ page, Sassa lists its toll-free helpline, including the fraud hotline, as 0800 601 011. That gives beneficiaries a direct route to seek help or report suspicious activity.

Responses and next steps

Sassa’s position, as quoted in the supplied article, is that the immediate access problem has been fixed and that beneficiaries with the necessary devices should use the digital channel where possible. The agency’s online services and eKYC pages were accessible at the time of checking on Friday, 10 April 2026.