Shocking Update: R370 Social Relief of Distress Payments Cancelled – Full Report Inside

Millions of South Africans who rely on social grants for survival are facing unprecedented challenges as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) rolls out stricter verification systems and battles ongoing technical issues. The result is a growing number of unpaid grants and mounting frustration among vulnerable citizens.

The Crisis of Unpaid Grants

In recent months, thousands of beneficiaries have been left without their much-needed social grants due to problems with SASSA’s online verification process. The most affected are recipients of the R370-a-month Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, but old age and disability grants are also seeing disruptions. Activists report receiving dozens of complaints each week from people unable to access their payments.

Key issues include:

• Delayed or missing verification links: Beneficiaries must verify their identities online, but many never receive the required link from SASSA, or it arrives too late.

• Technical failures: The online biometric verification system is reportedly unreliable, often “down or very slow,” and sometimes the links do not work at all.

• Exclusion of those without smart IDs: Those with older green ID books face additional hurdles, as the system struggles to process low-quality photos from the Home Affairs database.

• Limited access to technology: Many grant recipients do not have smartphones or cannot afford data, making the online process impossible.

• Unresponsive helplines: Attempts to contact SASSA for assistance often end in frustration, with calls going unanswered or unresolved

Human Stories Behind the Crisis

The impact of these failures is deeply personal and immediate for many families. Dalene Raiters from Eldorado Park in Johannesburg, for example, was initially able to receive her grant in 2023. However, after her account was flagged for suspected fraud, her grant was placed on hold until she completed biometric verification. She had to pay for transport and a new smart ID card, which cost her more than the grant itself. After finally receiving payments again in July 2024, she was blocked once more in May 2025 for “identity verification.” Her account remains blocked, forcing her to turn to loan sharks charging exorbitant interest rates just to feed her family.

Lincaster Davids, also from Eldorado Park, has not been paid since March. He tried to update his cellphone number but was unable to complete the biometric verification process. Without passing verification, he cannot update his contact details or access his grant. Visits to the local SASSA office have been fruitless, as he is often turned away without assistance.

Elizabeth Raiters, a social grants activist, reports being inundated with complaints. “Ten people come to my house every day, including weekends. I have to keep turning them away, explaining that the system is not working,” she said. “The SRD is becoming more of a punishment than serving its purpose. It’s the only grant that is so uncertain”.

Pensioners and Disability Grant Recipients Also Affected

The crisis is not limited to SRD grants. Old age grant beneficiaries in Durban, for example, queued for hours after not receiving their payments in June. Many assumed they were among the 210,000 people flagged for not disclosing their income, but they have not been officially informed. Disability grant recipients are also facing delays and bureaucratic hurdles.

Fatime Randeree, a 61-year-old pensioner, spent hours in line only to be told she needed an affidavit to confirm her husband’s details. When she returned later, she was denied entry and given an appointment for the following week. Others, like Mduduzi Nzila, have had to reapply for disability grants multiple times, facing long waits and significant financial strain due to the need for repeated documentation and travel2.

Tiffany, a disability grant recipient, has been separated from her husband for 16 years and does not know his whereabouts. SASSA now requires proof of divorce for her to continue receiving her grant, leaving her in a precarious financial position.

SASSA’s Response and Ongoing Challenges

SASSA has acknowledged some of the issues but maintains that beneficiaries have a responsibility to update their details. According to SASSA spokesperson Andile Tshona, flagged beneficiaries are notified via SMS, but many do not update their contact information. “Beneficiaries have a responsibility to inform SASSA of changes,” Tshona said.

However, activists argue that the system itself is flawed and excludes the most vulnerable. Black Sash helpline manager Kgothatso Sibanda suggests that SASSA set up help desks at local offices where beneficiaries can be manually verified by staff. This would help those who cannot access or use the online system.

SASSA has also introduced stricter verification measures in response to pressure from the National Treasury to clamp down on fraudulent grants. While these measures are intended to protect public funds, they have placed an additional burden on legitimate beneficiaries, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet.

The Broader Impact on Communities

The failure to pay social grants has far-reaching consequences. Many families rely on these grants to buy basic food items. Dalene Raiters, for example, uses her grant to purchase a Shoprite R99 grocery combo, which includes essentials like maize meal, rice, oil, soya mince, and pasta. Without the grant, she and her family are left without food.

The uncertainty and bureaucracy surrounding the grant process also force many to turn to loan sharks, who charge exorbitant interest rates. This traps vulnerable families in cycles of debt and poverty.

Activists and community leaders are calling for urgent reforms to the system. They argue that the current approach is failing those who need help the most and that manual verification options must be made available to ensure no one is left behind.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are so many social grants going unpaid?
Many grants are unpaid due to technical failures in SASSA’s online verification system, delayed or missing verification links, and the exclusion of those without smart IDs or smartphones.

2. What can beneficiaries do if their grant is not paid?
Beneficiaries are encouraged to update their contact details with SASSA, visit local offices for assistance, and seek help from social activists or organizations like Black Sash.

3. Are pensioners and disability grant recipients also affected?
Yes, old age and disability grant recipients are also facing delays and bureaucratic hurdles due to stricter verification measures and documentation requirements.