SASSA grant delays have left many beneficiaries frustrated, hungry and desperate for answers as payment problems continue to affect vulnerable households.
The anger has been growing in Soweto, where long queues have been seen at the SASSA office at Maponya Mall.
Many beneficiaries say they have not received their grants on time. Others say they were told their payments were affected by ongoing review and verification processes.
For families who depend on grants for food, transport, school needs and funeral society payments, even a short delay can cause serious pain.
Beneficiaries Say They Are Struggling
Several affected beneficiaries have complained that delayed payments have left them unable to buy food or meet basic needs.
One elderly beneficiary told Daily Sun that she could not pay her funeral society because her SASSA money had not arrived.
She also said she did not know whether a review message had been sent to her phone because she struggles to use a cellphone. Her situation has touched many people because it reflects a bigger problem.
Many elderly beneficiaries rely on SASSA payments as their only monthly income. When that money does not arrive, they have few options.
Long Queues at Maponya Mall
The Maponya Mall SASSA office has become a key point of frustration. Beneficiaries have been visiting the office to find out why their grants were delayed, stopped or flagged for review. SASSA in Gauteng has said many of the cases are linked to the ongoing social grant review process.
The agency says the review is required by law. It is used to confirm whether beneficiaries still qualify for the grants they receive. However, for many people standing in long queues, the process feels confusing and stressful.
Some say they were not properly informed. Others say they only discovered there was a problem after their money failed to arrive.
SASSA Explains Review Process
SASSA says grants are not automatically cancelled when a beneficiary is selected for review.
According to the agency, selected beneficiaries are supposed to be formally notified. They are then given time to confirm their details and submit supporting documents.
SASSA has also reminded beneficiaries that they must report changes in their personal, financial, medical or marital circumstances. This includes changes such as employment, income, banking details or household situation.
The agency says grants are meant for people who continue to meet the legal requirements. However, beneficiaries argue that communication must improve, especially for elderly people and those who struggle with technology.
More Than 420,000 Grants Flagged
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou has said the agency identified more than 420,000 grants that required review.
The agency has been working with banks, government departments and credit bureaus to verify information.
Matlou said many beneficiaries had already come forward for reviews. However, some grants have lapsed or been suspended because beneficiaries did not respond within the required timeframes.
SASSA has also flagged thousands of cases for possible fraud investigation. That has added another layer to the crisis.
The agency says it must protect the grant system from abuse. But affected beneficiaries say innocent people should not suffer because of administrative delays or poor communication.
Biometric Verification Adds Pressure
The grant review process is happening alongside SASSA’s wider biometric verification rollout. The biometric system is meant to confirm identities and prevent fraud.
Officials say it helps prove that a beneficiary is alive and that the correct person is receiving the grant. However, the rollout has also created pressure at local offices.
Some beneficiaries have had to visit SASSA offices for identity checks, life certification or document updates. This has increased queues and frustration at busy branches.
Government Takes Services to Communities
On Monday, 15 June, SASSA officials met residents during the Ministerial Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme in Pimville, Soweto.
The outreach was led by Acting Social Development Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
The programme aimed to bring government services closer to communities and reduce pressure on offices.
Matlou said many SASSA offices are far from where beneficiaries live. He said this was one reason officials decided to take services directly to residents.
For some beneficiaries, the outreach brought relief. For others, it raised more questions about why payments were delayed in the first place.
July Payment Dates Confirmed
SASSA has confirmed that July 2026 grant payments will continue according to the normal staggered system. Older persons’ grants are set to be paid first, followed by disability grants and then children’s grants.
The SRD R370 grant will continue to be processed in batches later in the month. SASSA has also urged beneficiaries not to withdraw all their money at once because funds remain safely in their accounts.
However, that advice offers little comfort to people who say their money has not arrived at all.
What Beneficiaries Should Do
Beneficiaries who are affected by delayed payments should visit their nearest SASSA office with their South African ID and supporting documents.
They should also make sure their phone number and banking details are up to date. Those selected for review should respond as soon as possible to avoid suspension or further delays.
SASSA has urged beneficiaries not to ignore review notices. Still, many people are calling for clearer communication, shorter queues and better support for the elderly.
Families Need Urgent Answers
The anger over SASSA grant delays shows how deeply millions of South Africans rely on social grants.
For some families, the money buys food. For others, it pays for transport, electricity, medicine or school expenses.
When payments are delayed, the impact is immediate. SASSA says the reviews are necessary to stop fraud and make sure grants reach the right people. But beneficiaries want the process to be faster, clearer and more compassionate.
For now, many are still waiting in queues, hoping for answers and praying their payments arrive before their situation gets worse.
