A Gauteng caregiver juggles part-time domestic work and Child Support Grants to feed a household of six, but the money runs out before month end.
Anathi Gama knows what it means to stretch every rand until it snaps.
In her late forties, she lives in a shared family home in Gauteng where she is responsible for six dependants.
Irregular income
Her part-time domestic work brings in irregular income, and the Child Support Grants she receives help bridge the gap. But even with both sources combined, she regularly struggles to make ends meet.
Gama receives the Child Support Grant, a SASSA payment of R580 per child per month designed to help caregivers cover the basic needs of children in their care.
She has been receiving this grant for more than five years. The money is deposited directly into her bank account each month, which saves her from queuing at pay points.
However, accessing SASSA offices when problems arise remains a challenge, as she must travel between five and 20 kilometres to reach them.
SASSA grant stretched thin across large household
The grant money, combined with her earnings from cleaning work, goes towards a mix of expenses. Food, transport, school costs and household essentials all compete for the same limited funds.
Gama confirmed that her grant does not cover her food needs adequately. By the time the month draws to a close, the money has already run out.
This pattern repeats itself month after month, leaving her household in a constant state of financial strain.
Her situation reflects a broader crisis facing millions of South Africans.
With unemployment exceeding 32 percent and the cost of living climbing steadily, households like Gama’s find themselves caught between stagnant income and rising prices.
Food inflation has hit lower-income families hardest, as staple items consume an ever-larger portion of their budgets.
The Child Support Grant amount has not kept pace with these increases, leaving caregivers to make impossible choices about what to prioritise.
Gama has also experienced problems with her grant payments. She reported at least one instance of a late or missing payment, which would have placed enormous pressure on a household already living on the edge.
For families with no financial cushion, even a short delay can mean children going hungry or debts accumulating with neighbours and local shops.
Rising food prices remain biggest worry for grant recipient
When asked about her greatest concern, Gama pointed to the cost of living and rising food prices.
This worry weighs heavily on caregivers across the country who watch their purchasing power erode with each passing month.
A bag of maize meal or a bottle of cooking oil costs significantly more than it did just two years ago, yet the grants have seen only modest increases.
Gama works in domestic and cleaning services, skills that provide some income but offer little job security or benefits.
Part-time work means unpredictable hours and no guarantee of employment from one week to the next.
She must balance these shifts with her responsibilities at home, caring for six people who depend on her to keep the household running.
Increase grant amount
When asked what single change would most improve her life, Gama’s answer was clear. She wants SASSA to increase the grant amount.
It is a sentiment shared by millions of recipients who find the current values insufficient for even basic survival.
She rated SASSA’s service as adequate but noted that she was unaware of other support programmes that might be available to her.
This lack of information means potential assistance goes unclaimed by those who need it most.
Gama’s story is one of quiet resilience in the face of relentless financial pressure. She continues to work, to care, and to hope that circumstances will improve.
But without meaningful increases to grant values or expanded employment opportunities, households like hers will remain trapped in a cycle of monthly shortfalls and daily sacrifices.
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