Non-payment of social grants ‘disrupts thousands of lives’

Following delays in paying social grant recipients, there are still people who have not received their payouts despite SASSA, Postbank and the Department of Social Development saying they will ensure that payouts are completed. 600 000 grant recipients were left stranded last week in what Postbank says was a technical glitch. Meanwhile, City Press reports that DSD has returned R15 billion of social relief of distress grants to the National Treasury in the last financial year. Opposition parties are calling for Minister Lindiwe Zulu to take responsibility for failing the economically vulnerable. Social Policy Initiative Executive Director Isobel Frye says thousands of lives have been disrupted by payment delays.