The African Arena

Fake R350 Double Payment Messages – In recent weeks, thousands of South African social grant beneficiaries have received fake messages claiming that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will issue a “double R350 payment” for the month of July. These false alerts have spread rapidly across social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, causing … Read more

BYD Dealerships – BYD, the global electric vehicle (EV) powerhouse from China, is gearing up to take South Africa by storm. The automaker has officially announced plans to expand its dealership footprint to over 100 locations across the country by 2026. This aggressive move will be backed by the introduction of its highly anticipated electric … Read more

SASSA Refund Scams – In June 2025, a massive cyber fraud campaign has rocked South Africa, with over 200,000 citizens targeted by fake SASSA “refund” scams. These phishing attacks are exploiting desperate grant beneficiaries by sending SMS messages, emails, and social media posts that falsely promise a refund or bonus payment from the South African … Read more

Expired SA ID Cards – More than a million South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries could face the risk of losing their R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in July 2025 if they fail to renew their expired South African ID cards by the urgent deadline of July 10. The Department of Home … Read more

Smart Meter Installations – South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, has issued a firm and urgent directive to households across the country: install a smart electricity meter by July 28, 2025—or risk being disconnected from the national grid. With energy theft, billing inefficiencies, and load-shedding planning issues on the rise, this move is seen as part … Read more

UIF Backlog Payouts – Thousands of South African workers who have been waiting for delayed UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) payments are finally seeing progress. Starting July 3, 2025, the Department of Labour has begun clearing a significant backlog of unpaid UIF claims—some totaling up to R10,000 or more per applicant. This comes as a relief … Read more

Post Office Cash Withdrawals – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced a major change that could impact millions of grant beneficiaries relying on the South African Post Office (SAPO) for cash withdrawals. As of July 25, 2025, the Post Office will no longer offer SASSA grant cash withdrawal services. This development is … Read more

New SASSA Tracker App – A major relief is on the way for millions of SASSA beneficiaries who rely on the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. Starting July 1, 2025, the South African government is launching an all-new ‘SASSA Tracker’ mobile app designed to provide real-time alerts and instant updates about grant payments. … Read more

Capitec & Postbank Users – As the July 2025 payment cycle begins, SASSA has issued an urgent notice for all R350 grant beneficiaries banking with Capitec and Postbank. If your banking details are not updated by July 8, you may not receive your grant this month. This comes amid widespread payment delays and verification backlogs … Read more

SASSA Gold Cards – More than 1.3 million South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold card holders are facing an urgent deadline. Their cards are set to expire on July 31, 2025. If these are not renewed by July 15, millions risk losing access to their July and August R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) … Read more