The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has issued an urgent public notice after scores of beneficiaries reported not receiving their social grants as scheduled at the start of November.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
“If you did not receive your social grant on the date you were intended to be paid, please urgently visit your nearest SASSA office as you may be due for a review,” the agency stated Thursday.
The warning comes after the November payment schedule, which outlined payments for Older Persons (Nov 4), Disability Grants (Nov 5) and Children’s Grants (Nov 6). However, by the end of the scheduled week, hundreds of reports surfaced online indicating that beneficiaries across several provinces had not received their funds.
‘Literally the whole country didn’t get paid’
Frustration mounted on social media as beneficiaries accused SASSA of poor communication and delayed reviews.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“If this is the case, literally the whole country didn’t receive any money today … SASSA branches will have to dedicate tomorrow to reviews only. The beneficiaries aren’t to blame — your staff are!”
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Another user, citing issues at a Gauteng branch, said:
“My grandmother went to do this review thing at the Benoni branch and she wasn’t helped. They told her to just wait for the money — she now receives payment on random dates.”
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These accounts suggest that systemic delays and poor branch management may be compounding the problem — a recurring theme in SASSA’s service delivery challenges.
A deeper crisis for millions
South Africa’s growing dependence on social grants has never been more evident. According to data shared by researcher Malcolm Libera, roughly 28.7 million people — nearly 44% of the population — rely on grants, supported by only 7.4 million taxpayers.
The imbalance underscores a fragile social safety net that millions depend on for daily survival. Grants are not simply welfare benefits — they are the primary lifeline for elderly citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income families raising children.
“When grants don’t arrive, people don’t eat,” a social worker from Soweto told NOWinSA, describing the week’s disruptions as “devastating.”
For context, the SRD (R370) grant, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, currently supports around 9 million unemployed individuals monthly.
The bigger picture: systemic strain and growing uncertainty
While SASSA has made strides in improving transparency and digital access — including online applications for grants and SRD grants — system glitches, bank verification delays, and administrative bottlenecks continue to erode public confidence.
The agency’s latest notice adds to a string of payment disruptions in 2024 and 2025, which have raised urgent questions about long-term sustainability, especially as the social grant bill has ballooned past R266 billion annually.
This issue also mirrors administrative challenges faced by other public funding schemes, including the NSFAS student aid program, which has faced its own payment and verification crises.
ALSO READ: NSFAS 2025 allowance increase: full breakdown and key updates
What to do if you haven’t received your grant
Beneficiaries who have not received payment are advised to take the following steps immediately:
- Visit your nearest SASSA office for assistance or review.
- Bring your ID document, SASSA card, and any official communication received regarding your grant.
- Do not share personal details or PINs with anyone outside an official SASSA branch or trusted payment channel.
- Use official channels for queries:
- Toll-Free: 0800 60 10 11
- Website: www.sassa.gov.za
- Online Grant Applications: services.sassa.gov.za
- SRD Grant Portal: srd.sassa.gov.za
- Email: GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
- WhatsApp: 082 054 0016
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