Millions of South Africans rely on SASSA grants to make ends meet. But with the rising cost of living, is the Child Support Grant, currently at R560, enough to feed a child? According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PEJDG), the cost of meeting a child's nutritional needs ranges between R826 and R1,085 a month. This leaves a significant shortfall for many families.
SASSA Payment Dates for November 2025
Here are the confirmed SASSA payment dates for November 2025:
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
- Disability Grants: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
- Children’s Grants: Thursday, November 7, 2024
It's crucial to remember these dates to ensure you receive your grant promptly. SASSA staggers payments to prevent system overloads and reduce queues.
Where Can You Collect Your SASSA Grant?
SASSA beneficiaries have several options for collecting their grants:
- Selected supermarkets (Pick n Pay, Boxer, USave merchants, Checkers, and Shoprite)
- SASSA card
- CashSend
- Direct bank transfer
SRD grant recipients can collect at South African Post Office branches, except for the SRD recipients.
Grant Increases: A Step in the Right Direction?
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced increases to permanent SASSA grants earlier this year, including:
- R100 increase to old age, war veterans, disability, and care dependency grants (divided into R90 in April and R10 in October)
- R50 increase to the foster care grant
- R20 increase to the child support grant
While these increases are welcome, many argue that they are still insufficient to address the growing issue of child hunger and poverty in South Africa. The National Department of Social Development previously recommended increasing the grant to R945 to halve child poverty and R1,417 to eliminate it. The current R560 falls far short of these targets.
Stay vigilant and plan ahead to ensure you receive your SASSA grant on time. Even a small delay can have a big impact on families relying on these funds.