Worried mother. Image by Pexels/Keira Burton
SASSA child support: Recipients left without money
The payment date for the SASSA child support grant has come and gone and many recipients have not yet received their money for January.
Worried mother. Image by Pexels/Keira Burton
SASSA’s spokesperson claims that there has been nothing unusual about the January payments even though hundreds of people have not received grants for their children.
ALSO READ: ‘SASSA could disappear if ANC loses power’ – Ramaphosa
SUSPENSION OF GRANTS
According to Groundup, many people nationwide have complained that their grants have been suspended, seemingly for little or no reason.
SASSA said that grants are suspended every month for recipients who fail bank verification processes, or who are declared dead by the Department of Home Affairs. “This is a monthly process that is conducted as part of the pre-payment process and not just specific to the month of January 2024,” SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi told GroundUp.
SASSA’s payment system has experienced several problems over the past two years. In September, thousands of social grant recipients were left without money after a “technical glitch” disrupted payment into the accounts of recipients who use SASSA Gold cards.
ALSO READ: What are the different SASSA grants for childcare in 2024?
SYSTEM ERROR REPORTED
Elizabeth Raiters from #PayTheGrants, said that SASSA officials told her yesterday that there was a “system error” and that it is unclear whether recipients will receive their money before the next payment run in February.
Raiters estimated that thousands of people have been affected nationwide.
Polity reported today that more than 70 000 beneficiaries are still waiting to receive their January social grants.
ALSO READ: SASSA Children’s grants can be collected from TODAY
CHILDREN RETURNING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY
Bridget Masango MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, said that for many mothers, the child support grant is their only income and SASSA’s payment failure places strain on them at the start of the school year when they have to buy school uniforms, shoes, and stationery according to Polity. A yet bigger concern is that they may not be able to buy food for their children.
“Children have to go back to school and now the parents can’t buy food or stationery,” said Raiters from #PayTheGrants.
ALSO READ: Lost SASSA cards can be handed in by SAPS
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