CAPE TOWN – The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has issued an apology following a widespread issue that left several pensioners in the Western Cape unable to access their monthly social grant payments on Thursday. The delay, which appears to have affected mostly Capitec Bank users, caused frustration and concern among elderly beneficiaries who rely on these funds for daily survival.
According to SASSA Western Cape spokesperson Andile Tshona, the agency is still working to understand the full scope of the disruption but has committed to resolving the issue as quickly as possible.
“We would really like to apologise as SASSA to all our beneficiaries who experienced this challenge,” said Tshona. “We want to assure them that we are going to get to the bottom of it, and we are hoping that their funds will be released soon.”
Capitec Users Most Affected by SASSA Grant Payment Issues
Preliminary information from SASSA suggests that the payment delay is primarily impacting beneficiaries who bank with Capitec, one of South Africa’s largest retail banks. It remains unclear whether the issue stems from SASSA’s internal systems, Postbank, or Capitec’s payment processing platform.
Tshona confirmed that the technical teams from both SASSA and Capitec are working together to identify and rectify the cause of the problem. However, the agency has yet to provide a definitive timeline for when all outstanding grant payments will be completed.
In the meantime, beneficiaries are advised to regularly check their balances, especially if they received SMS confirmations but were still unable to withdraw their funds at ATMs or retail outlets.
For many of the affected SASSA grant recipients, the delay in receiving their pensions has added emotional and financial strain.
A 68-year-old pensioner from Cape Town’s southern suburbs described the situation as “heartbreaking.”
“This isn’t the first time this has happened. I got my notification at 10 past 12 last night saying my money was in,” she said. “But when I went to Pick n Pay this morning to collect it, my money wasn’t there. It’s frustrating because we plan around this money.”
She added that pensioners often depend on the grant day for critical purchases such as medication, groceries, and transport. Any delay, even of a few hours, can disrupt their routines and access to essentials.
In its official statement, SASSA Western Cape pledged to maintain transparent communication with the public while the issue is being resolved. The agency has encouraged affected beneficiaries to follow SASSA’s verified social media platforms and local news outlets for real-time updates.
“We acknowledge the impact this has on our elderly and vulnerable communities,” Tshona said. “We’re working tirelessly behind the scenes and will continue to update beneficiaries until the matter is fully resolved.”
The agency also emphasized that this is not a widespread system failure but a targeted glitch, and that most SASSA payments across other banks were processed without problems.
Beneficiaries who have not received their SASSA social grants are advised to:
-
Check their bank balance at intervals, even if an SMS notification was received.
-
Avoid making repeated withdrawal attempts, which could incur unnecessary charges.
-
Contact their bank’s customer service to confirm whether there are any issues on their end.
-
Visit the nearest SASSA office or call the SASSA toll-free number (0800 60 10 11) for further assistance.
The agency has also reiterated that all beneficiaries will receive their full grant amount, and no funds will be lost due to the delay.
This latest hiccup adds to growing public pressure on SASSA to ensure the stability and reliability of its payment system, especially for pensioners and vulnerable groups who depend entirely on these monthly disbursements.
While this week’s issue appears to be limited in scope, previous delays and technical faults have eroded confidence in the agency’s ability to manage its grant distribution system efficiently.
Civil society organizations and advocacy groups have also weighed in, calling on SASSA and its payment partners to strengthen infrastructure, improve communication protocols, and ensure redundancy mechanisms are in place to avoid future disruptions.
As Friday approaches, affected pensioners and their families remain hopeful that SASSA and its banking partners will resolve the issue quickly, and that outstanding payments will reflect without further delay.
The agency has promised swift action, but for South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens, timely execution is not just expected — it is essential.
Source- EWN
