Money guides for South Africa
Grants, unclaimed benefits, refunds and free-to-play winnings
There is a lot of money in South Africa that people are entitled to and never collect. Retirement benefits sitting unclaimed at pension funds, SARS refunds nobody filed for, grants people assume they do not qualify for.
That is genuinely free money, and it is worth checking before you look anywhere else — because it is money that is already yours.
After that comes free-to-play prize gaming, which is what Mocash does. You play free lotteries, scratch cards, raffles and daily money drops, and winnings are paid in real rands. No deposit, no entry fee, nothing to lose.
Every one of these is free to check and free to claim. If anyone asks for a fee to help you access them, walk away.
Work down this list in order. The first three may already owe you money.
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority runs a free unclaimed benefits search. Billions of rands sit unclaimed in South African retirement funds from old jobs people forgot about. Searching costs nothing — never pay anyone to do it for you.
If you were employed and never filed a return, you may be owed a refund from previous tax years. You can check and file yourself on SARS eFiling for free.
The SRD grant pays R370 a month to unemployed South Africans aged 18 to 59, and has been extended to 31 March 2027. There are also older person, child support and disability grants. Apply only through official SASSA channels — applying is free and nobody legitimate charges a fee.
Mocash runs free lotteries, scratch cards, raffles and daily money drops. Every entry is free, and winnings are real rands in your wallet.
Withdraw to a South African bank account, or redeem airtime, data, prepaid electricity, grocery vouchers or a 1Voucher PIN.
Anyone charging a fee to 'help' you claim a SASSA grant, UIF or unclaimed benefits — all of these are free to claim yourself
'Your SASSA payment is ready, click here' SMS messages with shortened links
Loan offers that require an upfront 'insurance' or 'admin' payment before the money is released
Anyone asking for your SASSA PIN, banking OTP or ID document over WhatsApp
Investment schemes promising fixed high returns — including anything paid out from recruiting others
Jobs that require you to pay for training or a uniform before you start
No entry fee, no deposit and no subscription. Unlike a grant application there is no waiting, no paperwork and no qualifying criteria beyond being 18 and South African.
Grants and refunds take weeks and can be declined. Mocash games pay out the same day you win them.
Actual South African currency, not points or credit locked to one retailer.
Games reset daily, so it is not a once-off. There is a fresh free chance every day of the month.
Airtime, data, electricity, vouchers and 1Voucher PINs go straight to your phone. Useful if you are unbanked.
Because you never stake your own money, a losing entry costs you nothing but the few seconds it took.
Start by checking what you are already owed: unclaimed retirement benefits through the FSCA's free search, unfiled SARS refunds, and SASSA grants you may qualify for. Then add free-entry prize gaming like the lotteries, scratch cards and daily money drops on Mocash, which pay real rands with nothing to deposit.
Yes. Billions of rands sit in unclaimed retirement fund benefits, largely from people who changed jobs and lost track of a provident or pension fund. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority runs a free unclaimed benefits search — never pay anyone to search on your behalf.
The SRD grant pays R370 per month to unemployed South Africans aged 18 to 59, and has been extended until 31 March 2027. Amounts and criteria are set by SASSA and change, so confirm the current figures on the official SASSA website before applying.
No. Applying for any SASSA grant is free, and so is claiming UIF or searching for unclaimed benefits. Anyone charging you a fee to apply is running a scam.
No. Mocash is a private rewards platform with no connection to SASSA or any government agency. It is free-entry prize gaming funded by advertising and partner offers, and it is separate from anything you receive from the state.
Grant eligibility rules are set by SASSA and are based on your income and means. If you receive a means-tested grant, check the current SASSA rules about additional income before relying on any assumption either way.
It depends on the game and the size of the day's prize pool. This is top-up money for airtime, data, electricity or groceries — helpful, but not a replacement for a grant or an income, and we would rather say so.
Not for most payouts. Airtime, data, prepaid electricity, grocery vouchers and 1Voucher PINs all go to your phone. A bank account is only needed if you want a cash withdrawal.
Soon. Join the waitlist and we will notify you the moment the app goes live so you can play from the first day's prize pool.
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Mocash is a private rewards platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by SASSA, SARS, the FSCA or any government agency. Always apply for grants and claim benefits through official channels — these services are free and nobody legitimate charges a fee.
Grant amounts, eligibility criteria and deadlines are set by the relevant authority and change over time. Confirm current details with the official source before acting on anything here.
You must be 18 or older and resident in South Africa to play. Mocash is not an investment, income or financial product, and no winnings are guaranteed. This page is general information, not financial advice.
