Samkelisiwe Khawula

There are qualifying individuals who have not received their social relief grant as they were expected to receive the grant from May until next month and some have received only one payment and they have not received other payments.

The grants were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April as part of the R500 billion economic and social relief measures during the pandemic.

People spend night queuing outside the post office to be on time for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant, many beneficiaries are being turned away and told there is no money, or they must continue waiting.

SASSA beneficiaries said they start the queue early in the morning to avoid long hours in the lines.

Andile Nzama who have received only June and July payments was one of the recipients who have queued in the long queue since 4 am outside Port Shepstone post office.

“I arrived here early in the morning I was the third person on the queue, but I was told there is no money. The last time I received money it was July.” Said Nzama.

Elihle Mthembu who was also rejected said he is very sad because the president promised that the money would be available every month.

“They said I must come back the following month to check my money. This is sad because the president said this money would be available every month,” said Mthembu

SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said in an interview with Sunday Independent, “Beneficiaries who chose to collect their money at the post office should only report there after receiving an SMS saying the money is available for collection to avoid inconvenience. Applications are reviewed every month in case the financial situation of a beneficiary changes from month to month so it is not automatic that once approved for one month that will receive your money every month.”

Picture: mg.co.za