SASSA R580 grant ‘helps but is not enough’, Northern Cape mother tells The South African

A Northern Cape mother who holds a full-time job and cares for between three and five dependants told The South African she still cannot make ends meet despite receiving the R580 Child Support Grant per child. She said the payment is used for school fees and her children’s needs but does not stretch to cover food and household costs.

Grant covers school costs, not monthly essentials

According to The South African, the woman who has received the Child Support Grant for more than five years said the R580-per-child monthly payment “goes straight to school fees and my children’s needs”. She added that the grant “helps but it is not enough” and that she “runs out of money before the month ends”.

Working but still squeezed by living costs

The South African reports the mother works in domestic and cleaning work. The article says wages for people in her position often fail to keep up with the cost of living, which she identified as her single biggest financial concern.

Service and access to payments

She rated SASSA’s service as very good and told The South African that her payments are deposited directly into her Postbank account, which spares her from queuing. She suggested there should be more pay points or collection options for beneficiaries without easy access to banking.

Unaware of other support options

The South African reports the woman said she did not know what other support she might be entitled to beyond the Child Support Grant and had never applied for any additional support.

Call for stories

The South African is inviting SASSA grant recipients to share their experiences in a survey and offers a chance to win R2 000 for participants, the article says.

“I’m really thankful for this grant it really helps,” she told The South African.

Her account highlights the challenge faced by some employed grant recipients who still struggle to cover basic needs amid rising costs, according to The South African.