SASSA Kiosks Planned for Public Libraries as Grant Recipients Near 20 Million

• Social Development Minister Dina Pule visited two SASSA offices in the Western Cape to assess payment delays and overcrowding firsthand
• Pule announced plans to deploy temporary contract staff and introduce library kiosks for first-time grant applicants
• South Africans reacted to news that nearly 20 million people could be relying on SASSA grants by the end of 2026

WESTERN CAPE — Social Development Minister Dina Pule has unveiled plans to place SASSA application kiosks inside public libraries, allowing first-time applicants to submit their paperwork without visiting congested SASSA offices.

According to eNCA, Pule confirmed the intervention following site visits to the Khayelitsha and Bellville SASSA branches in the Western Cape on 13 August 2026, where she observed payment delays and long queues firsthand. After consulting with both staff and beneficiaries on the ground, she also announced that temporary contract workers would be brought in to relieve pressure on existing personnel.

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Confusion among beneficiaries contributing to overcrowding

The minister identified a recurring problem driving congestion at offices: beneficiaries arriving on the wrong days. Pule noted that elderly grant recipients were turning up on days reserved for child grant payments, under the mistaken belief that arriving early would secure them priority service. She called on applicants to confirm the designated payment date for their specific grant category before visiting a branch.

The scale of South Africa's social grant system continues to expand. By the end of 2026, close to 20 million South Africans are expected to depend on SASSA grants for their livelihoods, placing increasing strain on the agency's infrastructure and workforce. This is despite SASSA auditing recipients, one of whom was ordered to repay SASSA after she was found to be employed.

View a post about the Khayelitsha visit on Facebook:

South Africans react to growing grant numbers

The figures drew significant reactions online, with many South Africans voicing concern about the sustainability of the grant system and the eligibility of recipients.

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Motlatsi Makho wrote:

"All I can say is thank you to all the taxpayers ❤️🙏, I don't know how some of us will be eating 🥹😢"

Nikolai Stoikof commented:

"With mamparas in charge, is anyone surprised?"

Helena Lotz Oosthuizen questioned:

"Do they make sure everybody is rightfully receiving grants?"

Ashley Rhodes wrote:

"I wonder what percentage of them are eligible to work or look for work. This is ANC's way of keeping the vulnerable dependent on them and staying vulnerable, hence them staying in power for so long."

Mandla Kose added:

"ANC is asking for a second chance."

Western Cape woman opens up about R370 grant

In a related article, Briefly News reported on an unemployed woman from the Western Cape who relies solely on her SASSA SRD grant, which totals R370 per month, to feed her household. Her experience sheds light on the challenges faced by many South Africans amid high unemployment rates and scarce job opportunities.

Source: Briefly News