The early morning queue outside the SASSA office in Alexandra township stretches for nearly half a kilometer. I’ve arrived at 5:30 AM, and already hundreds of people are waiting—mothers with babies strapped to their backs, elderly men leaning on walking sticks, and young adults who should be in university or seeking employment but instead are spending their day in this seemingly endless line. The mood is a complex mixture of frustration, resignation, and cautious hope.
“I’ve been waiting for my money since January,” says Nomvula Khumalo, a 43-year-old mother of three who arrived at 4 AM to secure her spot near the front. “Every month they promise, but nothing comes. Now they say the R360 is finally being paid. I’ll believe it when I see it in my account.”
After months of delays, confusion, and increasing desperation among beneficiaries, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has finally announced the release of the R360 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payments. For millions of South Africans who depend on this modest sum for their basic survival, the news comes as both a relief and a frustration—why did it take so long, and will the payments be consistent going forward?
The Announcement That Sparked Hope
Last week, SASSA’s official communication channels confirmed that the R360 SRD grant payments for the current cycle had begun processing. According to the statement, beneficiaries would start seeing payments reflect in their bank accounts, or would be able to collect cash payments, depending on their chosen payment method.
“SASSA acknowledges the hardship caused by the delayed payments and appreciates the patience of all affected beneficiaries,” read the official statement. “The processing of payments has commenced and will continue in batches throughout the coming days until all eligible recipients have received their grants.”
For Sibusiso Malanga, a 27-year-old from Soweto who lost his job as a restaurant worker during the pandemic and has been unable to find stable employment since, the announcement triggered mixed emotions.
“Of course I’m happy the money is coming, but what about the months we didn’t get paid?” he asks me, as we chat outside a busy shopping center where he occasionally finds piece work helping shoppers with their bags. “That was food we couldn’t buy, electricity we couldn’t purchase. Those months of suffering, no one can give them back to us.”
Understanding the Delays
The R360 SRD grant, initially introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a crucial lifeline for nearly 10 million South Africans living in poverty. Originally set at R350 per month, the grant saw a modest increase to R360 in the last fiscal year—an amount that, while small, can make the difference between eating and going hungry for many households.
But despite its critical importance, the grant system has been plagued by administrative challenges, budget constraints, and implementation issues. To understand what went wrong with recent payments, I spoke with Elizabeth Mokgata, a former SASSA regional administrator who now works as a social welfare policy consultant.
“The problems are multi-faceted,” Mokgata explains as we meet at a café near the SASSA headquarters in Pretoria. “First, there’s the transition from the emergency COVID-19 framework to establishing the SRD as a more permanent grant. This required new systems, new verification processes, and new budgetary allocations.”
According to Mokgata, the verification process has been particularly problematic. SASSA implemented stricter means testing to ensure that only those who truly qualify receive the grant. This includes cross-checking applicants against banking records, UIF databases, and other government systems to verify that they have no income or receive no other social assistance.
“In theory, this should create a more efficient system that directs resources to those most in need,” she continues. “But in practice, it created enormous backlogs. Systems that don’t talk to each other properly, outdated databases, and simple human error meant many eligible recipients were incorrectly disqualified or stuck in verification limbo.”
Government budget constraints have also played a significant role. With South Africa facing economic challenges including high unemployment, decreased tax revenue, and competing priorities for limited resources, securing the necessary funds for consistent SRD payments has been an ongoing struggle.
“It’s a political balancing act,” notes Dr. Thabo Manyathi, an economist at the University of Johannesburg whom I consulted to better understand the fiscal constraints. “The government recognizes the humanitarian need for the grant but must also consider fiscal sustainability. The R360 per person might seem small, but multiplied by nearly 10 million recipients monthly, it represents a significant budget item.”
The Human Impact of Delayed Payments
While officials and experts discuss systems and budgets, the real impact of these delays is felt in homes across South Africa, particularly in townships and rural areas where the SRD grant often represents the only reliable income for entire households.
In Diepsloot, I visit the small two-room home of Grace Ndlovu, a 62-year-old grandmother who cares for three grandchildren after their mother passed away from HIV-related complications. Too young to qualify for the older persons grant but unable to find work due to her age and health issues, Grace depends entirely on the SRD grant.
“When the payments don’t come, we eat pap only—no vegetables, no protein,” she explains, showing me her nearly empty food cabinet. “I borrow from neighbors, but everyone here is struggling. Sometimes the children go to school hungry.”
The delays have created ripple effects throughout communities. Local spaza shops that extend credit to grant recipients have struggled as debts remain unpaid. Landlords who rent rooms to grant recipients have faced difficult choices about whether to evict tenants who fall behind on rent.
Thandi Maseko runs a small spaza shop in Alexandra and has seen firsthand how the grant delays affect the entire community economy. “When people don’t receive their grants, my business suffers immediately,” she tells me as she restocks her shelves. “I try to give credit to my regular customers, especially the elderly and those with children, but there’s only so much I can do before my own suppliers refuse to deliver because I can’t pay them.”
The psychological toll has been equally severe. Multiple studies by South African universities have documented increased rates of depression, anxiety, and family conflict in communities affected by grant payment disruptions.
“There’s a special kind of stress that comes from not knowing if you’ll be able to feed your family next week,” explains Dr. Nomonde Plaatjie, a psychologist who works with low-income communities in the Eastern Cape. “It’s not just the hardship itself—it’s the uncertainty, the feeling of being forgotten by systems that are supposed to support you.”
What Recipients Need to Know Now
With payments finally being released, there’s considerable confusion among beneficiaries about what to expect. Here’s what current information indicates:
Payment Schedule
SASSA has not provided an exact day-by-day payment schedule but has confirmed that payments are being released in batches. Recipients can expect to receive their grants based on the last digit of their ID numbers, though the specific sequence hasn’t been officially communicated.
Payment Methods
Recipients will receive their grants through the same channel they selected during application:
- Direct bank deposits for those who provided banking details
- Post Office collections for those who selected this option
- Cardless ATM withdrawals through partners including Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, and Boxer stores
Verification Status
Recipients whose status shows as “approved” on the SASSA SRD website should receive payment in the current cycle. Those with pending applications or who show “pending verification” may experience additional delays.
Back Payments
One of the most pressing questions—whether beneficiaries will receive back payments for months they were approved but not paid—remains unclear. SASSA’s statement indicates that the current focus is on “normalizing the payment cycle going forward” rather than addressing arrears immediately.
This lack of clarity about back payments has been a major source of frustration among recipients like Mandla Sithole, a 31-year-old from Tembisa who has been approved for the grant since its inception but has experienced intermittent payment gaps.
“They owe me for three months,” he says firmly. “That’s over R1,000 which would make a huge difference to my life right now. But when I ask at the office, no one can tell me if or when I’ll get that money.”
The Broader Social Protection Debate
Beyond the immediate concerns about current payments, the SRD grant situation has intensified debate about South Africa’s social protection system and whether a more comprehensive approach is needed.
Advocates for a Basic Income Grant (BIG) argue that the challenges with the SRD grant demonstrate the need for a more universal, streamlined system that provides consistent support to all South Africans living below the poverty line.
“The SRD grant was never designed as a permanent solution,” argues Ayanda Ntsaluba of the Institute for Economic Justice, whom I interviewed at their Johannesburg office. “It was an emergency measure that has been repeatedly extended because the need is so great. But the administrative challenges we’re seeing highlight the limitations of this approach.”
Ntsaluba and other BIG proponents suggest that a universal grant with simplified eligibility criteria would reduce administrative costs, eliminate many of the verification challenges, and provide more consistent support to vulnerable populations.
Critics counter that South Africa’s fiscal constraints make a comprehensive BIG unfeasible without significant tax increases or spending cuts in other areas.
“The debate shouldn’t be framed as SRD versus BIG,” suggests Dr. Manyathi. “It’s really about what kind of social protection floor South Africa can sustainably provide given economic realities. The R360 grant is inadequate for lifting people out of poverty, but even this modest amount has proven challenging to deliver consistently.”
How Community Organizations Are Stepping In
While the government works to address systemic issues, community organizations across South Africa have been working to fill gaps and support grant recipients through the payment delays.
In Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, I visit a community kitchen run by Sizanani Outreach. What began as a small operation feeding 50 people three times a week has expanded to serve over 300 people daily as SRD payment delays pushed more families into food insecurity.
“We’re seeing people we’ve never seen before,” explains Margaret Lehoko, who coordinates the kitchen. “Younger people, people who were managing before but have exhausted all their resources during these delays.”
Similar initiatives have emerged across the country—food gardens, community support groups, and informal lending circles where people pool resources to help the most vulnerable community members through crisis periods.
These community responses, while inspiring, also highlight the limitations of relying on informal safety nets. “We’re stretching everything we have,” Lehoko tells me as volunteers prepare massive pots of nutritious soup. “But we can’t reach everyone, and we can’t solve the underlying problems. The system needs to work reliably.”
Looking Forward: Will Payments Stabilize?
As SASSA works to process the current batch of payments, the question on everyone’s mind is whether this marks a return to reliable monthly disbursements or if further disruptions lie ahead.
SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi provided a cautiously optimistic assessment when I reached him by phone: “We have implemented system improvements and secured the necessary treasury allocations to stabilize payments going forward. While we cannot guarantee there will never be delays, we are confident that the worst disruptions are behind us.”
Social development minister Sisisi Tolashe recently told Parliament that her department has been working closely with National Treasury to ensure sustainable funding for the grant through the current fiscal year.
However, many recipients and social welfare experts remain skeptical, pointing to similar promises made after previous payment disruptions.
“The proof will be in next month’s payment, and the month after that,” says Elizabeth Mokgata. “One on-time payment doesn’t restore confidence in a system that has repeatedly failed its most vulnerable users.”
What Recipients Can Do
For the millions of South Africans who depend on the R360 SRD grant, navigating the system remains challenging. Based on conversations with SASSA officials, community organizers, and recipients who have successfully resolved problems, here are some practical recommendations:
- Check your status regularly: The SASSA SRD website allows recipients to check their application status and payment status. Regular monitoring can help identify issues early.
- Keep your contact information updated: Many payment notifications are sent via SMS, so ensuring SASSA has your current phone number is essential.
- Document everything: Keep screenshots of your application status, reference numbers from any queries submitted, and notes about in-person visits to SASSA offices.
- Use the appeal process: If your application shows as “rejected” despite meeting eligibility criteria, submit an appeal through the official channels rather than simply reapplying.
- Connect with community organizations: Local NGOs and community groups often have established relationships with SASSA officials and can provide guidance on navigating the system.
- Be cautious of scams: The payment delays have created opportunities for scammers claiming to “fast-track” SRD payments for a fee. All legitimate SASSA services are free.
Beyond the R360
As the sun rises higher over the SASSA queue in Alexandra, community volunteers arrive with thermoses of tea for those waiting. A small act of kindness in a situation characterized by systemic failures. People share information, compare application statuses, and offer each other advice on navigating the bureaucratic maze.
“We survive because we help each other,” Nomvula tells me as she accepts a cup of tea. “The R360 is important—I need it desperately—but the real strength is in how we hold each other up when the systems fail us.”
The release of the delayed SRD payments brings necessary relief to millions of South Africans, but it also highlights deeper questions about the country’s social protection framework. As a temporary measure extended repeatedly, the SRD grant exists in a policy limbo that contributes to its administrative challenges.
What’s clear from speaking with recipients, officials, and experts is that the status quo is unsustainable. Whether through comprehensive reform toward a Basic Income Grant or fundamental improvements to the existing system, South Africa needs a social protection approach that delivers consistent, dignified support to its most vulnerable citizens.
For now, though, the focus remains on the immediate relief that the R360 payments will bring to households that have been stretching meager resources for months. For people like Grace, Sibusiso, and Nomvula, this money represents far more than its modest face value—it’s the difference between desperation and dignity, between hunger and hope.
As I leave the SASSA office area around midday, the queue has barely shortened. New arrivals continue to join the back of the line, many having traveled from rural areas at considerable expense just to inquire about their grants. Their persistence is a testament to both the critical importance of this social support and the extraordinary resilience of South Africans in the face of systemic challenges.
The R360 SRD grant may be a small amount by global standards, but its impact on the lives of recipients is immeasurable. The least they deserve is to receive it reliably, predictably, and with the dignity that all citizens should be afforded.
Also Read –
How To Apply And Claim The 2025 SASSA R520 Grant For Caregivers