Recently, posts and messages appeared on the Internet, claiming that such a South African government or agency had created something called the “R12,500 Youth Empowerment Grant” for unwaged youth between the ages of 18 and 35. Those messages say that eligible youth would receive either a one-time or periodic payout of R12,500, as per the scheme. Both SASSA and the National Youth Development Agency have denied this officially and called it a hoax.
Official Response and Denials
SASSA and the NYDA have strongly warned the public against believing claims of the existence of such an R12,500 grant. SASSA dismissed the claim as fake news and reminded beneficiaries to seek grant information only from official channels. The NYDA also stated that it was not offering any such grant and warned the public not to disclose personal information in response to these fraudulent promises. News outlets have also in their way, backlashed on saying that this claim is untrue.
Why the Rumor Spreads
There are a few reasons why these claims seem to be on the rise:
- Attractive ideas for such large grants are brewing, given high youth unemployment and ever-growing economic hardship.
- Viral social media posts frequently have a video, screenshot, or misleading graphic-operating under the guise of “official documents.”
- Some posts request personal data from applicants or “registration fees,” which are typical in scams.
- In many instances, the messages were ambiguous concerning which government department was attached to the grant and the actual application procedure.
- Such characteristics easily make the claim do the rounds among frustrated youth seeking financial assistance.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Scams
If you come across a post on R12,500 Youth Empowerment Grant or similar:
- Always verify with official sources—check the SASSA, NYDA, or other government websites.
- Never pay a fee to apply—an authentic grant does not require any payments or “processing fees.”
- Avoid sharing sensitive personal information, such as ID numbers or bank details, unless you are sure it is a verified and secure process.
- Only apply through official channels—for instance, the NYDA ERP Portal for youth programmes.
- Also, keep an eye out for suspicious posts/numbers promoting the grant scam and report them to local authorities or social media platforms.
Also Read: SASSA October Grant Payouts: Key Dates And Updates For Beneficiaries