SASSA grant gone by month-end: A Gauteng mother’s fight to feed her family

For more than five years, a Gauteng woman in her late thirties has relied on the SASSA Child Support Grant to help support her household. But as living costs rise across South Africa, she says the R580-a-month payment per child is losing its grip on the basics.

The mother, who lives in a shared family home supporting between three and five people, says the grant goes almost entirely towards food and groceries, and still falls short. By the time each month ends, she says nothing is left of the payment, and someone in her household has gone without food in the past month.

Her experience mirrors a national pattern. South Africa’s unemployment rate sits above 32%, and roughly 18 million people depend on SASSA grants to get by. Food inflation continues to squeeze low-income households, forcing many caregivers to choose between meals and other essentials.

Searching for work, coming up short

Unemployed and actively job-hunting, she says she’s willing to travel between five and 20 kilometres for work. Still, opportunities remain scarce, and the travel itself adds costs she can’t easily absorb.

Despite the financial strain, she says her dealings with SASSA itself have been smooth, rating the agency’s communication with recipients as “very good.” Her main frustration isn’t the grant process, it’s finding clear, accurate information about grants online.

What she wants to see change

Asked what she would change about SASSA if she could, her answer was direct: increase the grant amount. She has previously tried applying for additional government support but was either turned down or gave up partway through. For now, the Child Support Grant remains her financial lifeline even as it covers less each month.

Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey

If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you.

Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter