Born free, blocked by the system

IOL News

16-06-2025

ZODWA Vanqase, Treasure Moloi, Zethu Magidigudi, Kelvinicia Malan, Motshidisi Motloung, Carey-Lee Oliphant and Busisiwe Hlatshwayo who all volunteer at P.U.S.H in Kliptown remember their school years in uniform as Youth Day approaches.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspaper
Over four million young South Africans rely on the R370 Social Relief of Distress grants.
Image: Ron Lach / Pexels
Forty-nine years after the 1976 youth rose up for their future, a new generation is still fighting—this time, for access to basic survival.
Blocked by digital dead-ends, outdated databases, and silent systems, many young South Africans are being denied the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant - an essential support in a country where jobs are scarce and promises often fall flat.
These technical barriers are hindering the efforts of youth applicants to secure these crucial funds, according to the social justice organisation, Black Sash.
South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) spokesperson Andile Tshona said while there are currently over four million young beneficiaries receiving SRD grants, it is difficult to say whether this figure is more or less than the previous years, as the numbers keep changing.
'Remember that the SRD grant is not permanent. Some come through the system through approvals. At the same time, others get off the SRD grant as they no longer qualify after being reviewed,' he said.
Black Sash executive director Rachel Bukasa said youth applicants for the SRD grant face multiple systemic and technical barriers.
These barriers include unjust disqualifications due to outdated or inaccurate data from third-party databases (eg UIF, SARS) and delays in ID verification, particularly for young people recently issued with identity documents.
Bukasa said other issues include the lack of digital access or data, which hinders online applications or status checks.
She said poor communication from Sassa makes it difficult to understand rejection reasons or appeal processes and banking verification failures, especially for youth using accounts not in their name and digital wallets.
There is also limited awareness about how to reapply or appeal decisions, especially among the youth in rural or underserved areas.
'Black Sash is actively working to support young SRD applicants through rights education and awareness campaigns, including digital content and community outreach that explain how to apply, appeal, and escalate,' said Bukasa.
In addition, Bukasa said the organisation has paralegal support via the Black Sash Community Advice Offices and Helpline, guiding youth through verification or appeal processes.
'We also engage Sassa and the Department of Social Development (DSD) at the policy level, advocating for a more transparent and accessible SRD process, especially for youth and marginalised groups.
Bukasa said Black Sash does active monitoring in the field, particularly during grant payment weeks, and reports SRD-related issues and trends to hold the government accountable and push for systemic reform.
Aliya Chikte, project manager at the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), agreed that young people encounter multiple obstacles at every stage of the SRD grant process.
Chikte said there are also language barriers, biometric identity verification systems that are difficult to navigate, and an over-reliance on the formal banking system.
'Additionally, millions are wrongly disqualified because the income threshold is set below the Food Poverty Line - meaning even those in dire need are denied support,' she said.
Chikte said 700,000 people are over 18 but still in the schooling system. 'These school learners are kicked off the Child Support Grant despite their nutritional needs remaining the same.'
Chikte advised that there needs to be a universal basic income guarantee to ensure that youth do not fall deeper into poverty, especially in the context of mass unemployment.
'The government cannot make income support contingent on searching for jobs that do not exist,' she said.
Kgothatso Sibanda, Black Sash Helpline manager, stated that they receive over 35 calls weekly from individuals facing issues with ID verification for SRD grants.
Sibanda said the people who receive the grant have little to no income. 'This R370 grant, although it's small, does go a long way for those applicants. Without it, they cannot meet their needs or even hunt for a job.'
She said a major issue is the verification link needed by beneficiaries from Sassa to prevent fraudulent activity.
Beneficiaries fail to receive the link, and in some cases, the systems are down at Sassa and Home Affairs at varying times, she said.
This affects not only those who are flagged but also those who need to change their cellphone numbers.
'From last year around June/July, we started getting a lot of complaints from people who were not getting links,' she said, noting that, according to Sassa, the system is automated.
Sibanda said people wait up to three or more months without getting the link.
She recommended that the verification be done at a Sassa local office to ensure that verification processes are sped up.
'If local office staff have access to the link, where applicants are able to go, that will really assist in speeding up the process,' said Sibanda.
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Image: Independent Media