KHAYELITSHA - By the end of the year, nearly 20 million South Africans could rely on SASSA grants.
Each month, they queue at chaotic offices to collect their payments.
Many complain of confusion and being repeatedly told to return.
Now Social Development Minister Dina Pule says she has a plan to curb the chaos, and it includes hiring temporary staff.
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Pule visited Khayelitsha and Bellville SASSA offices to see first-hand what’s causing the delays.
After speaking with staff and people in the queues, Pule said she now better understands what must be done to improve service.
She says plans are underway to hire contract staff and ease the burden.
The minister urges grant applicants to check the date their grant category is due for payment.
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"I think they believe that if they come early, they are going to be first in the line, and they don't get to be first in line because they come on the wrong day.
"Today, for example, was a child grant day, but I got the elderly there," she said.
She says kiosks will soon be set up in libraries, allowing first-time applicants to apply there.
- eNCA’s Ayesha Ismail reports.