A Gauteng mother shares how the Child Support Grant falls short of feeding her large family amid rising food prices.
Struggling to feed a household on R580 per child
Jeanette Kidiemetse Moses wakes before dawn each month to make the journey to collect her SASSA grant.
A woman in her late forties, Moses lives in Gauteng and supports more than six dependants on a combination of part-time work and government assistance.
Her story reflects the daily reality faced by millions of South African caregivers who find themselves caught between inadequate support and soaring living costs.
Moses receives the Child Support Grant, a monthly payment of R580 per eligible child designed to help caregivers meet the basic needs of children in their care.
She has relied on this grant for more than five years. Despite the consistent payments, the money never stretches far enough to cover her household’s most basic requirement, which is food.
The true cost of accessing SASSA services
Each month, Moses must travel more than 20 kilometres to reach her nearest SASSA office or Postbank branch.
The journey costs money she can barely spare.
Transport fees eat into an already insufficient grant, forcing her to choose between the taxi fare and groceries for her children.
For recipients living far from urban centres, this distance creates a cruel irony where accessing poverty relief itself becomes a financial burden that deepens the very poverty it aims to address.
When Moses finally arrives, her challenges continue.
She has identified long queues and extended wait times at SASSA offices as one of her biggest frustrations.
Payment delays and issues with her SASSA card compound the problem.
A day spent waiting is a day she cannot work. Her part-time employment offers some income, but the irregular hours make it impossible to build any financial stability.
Moses possesses admin and office skills that could lead to better opportunities, yet finding consistent work remains elusive in an economy where unemployment exceeds 32 percent.
Food insecurity and the monthly shortfall
The grant money arrives in her Postbank account, but it disappears almost immediately.
Moses spends the funds primarily on food and groceries. Even so, she admits she cannot always afford to eat.
The money runs out before the month ends, leaving her household in a precarious position during the final weeks.
She rates her overall experience with SASSA as poor, not because of problems with the application process, but because the support simply does not meet her family’s needs.
Moses is not alone in her struggle.
Across South Africa, approximately 18 million people receive SASSA grants.
The Child Support Grant reaches more recipients than any other programme, yet its value has failed to keep pace with inflation.
Food prices have climbed steadily, and Moses identifies the cost of living as her greatest concern.
When asked what single change would most improve her life, her answer is direct. She wants an increase in the grant amount.
A system that leaves families behind
Perhaps most concerning is what Moses does not know.
She has never been informed about additional support programmes that might be available to her.
This lack of awareness is common among grant recipients who navigate a complex welfare system without guidance.
Many eligible South Africans miss out on supplementary assistance simply because nobody tells them it exists.
When asked if sharing her story might lead to change, Moses expressed doubt.
She believes that speaking out makes no difference because nothing ever gets done.
Her frustration reflects a deeper disillusionment shared by countless recipients who feel unheard by the institutions meant to serve them.
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