SASSA grant, USA News (Gauteng, South Africa): A retired grant recipient supporting several family members has explained why her monthly South African Social Security Agency payment disappears long before the month ends. Gladys Tshuma, a Gauteng pensioner over the age of 65, shared her experience through The South African’s SASSA grant survey, detailing how she uses her Older Person’s Grant to support five individuals in a shared household.
Tshuma stated that the R2 400 she receives monthly falls short before she even reaches the shops. She expressed a desire for the older people’s share to be increased, noting that the amount is very small. According to Tshuma, one can only buy small items and go empty-handed for the rest of the month, adding that water and electricity bills alone exceed the total grant amount.
Despite the financial shortfall, Tshuma emphasized that she values the support, stating they are still grateful while struggling a lot. Having received the grant for more than three years, she distributes the funds across food, utilities, and household necessities, though she reports that it fails to cover basic needs and she regularly runs out of money before the month concludes.
Her primary financial worry centers on the rising cost of living, particularly food prices. Although no one in her household went without food during the past month, she continues to struggle to make ends meet. Tshuma noted that her own grant payments have remained straightforward and rated SASSA’s communication with recipients as adequate.
However, she highlighted several common challenges faced by recipients, including gathering required documents, enduring long queues at SASSA offices, checking application statuses, dealing with payment delays or card issues, and keeping track of renewal or reapplication timelines. If she could change one aspect of the system, Tshuma would increase the overall grant amount to better help pensioners keep the lights on, taps running, and food on the table.
