Home Sassa e-system offline soon after electronic platform launched

Sassa e-system offline soon after electronic platform launched

South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has been battling a series of tech glitches since the start of May, which delayed the grant payout process. Sassa planned to launch the digital platform with the re-opening of Sassa offices.

In a statement released on 9 May, Sassa gave an update on the “readiness for COVID-19 social relief of distress grant applications:

“The criteria for application is set to be gazetted […] in order to enable implementation and allow the millions of deserving members of the public to access the grant. […] The WhatsApp and related electronic application options will go live on Monday”.

Sassa COVID-19 grant applications

Sassa COVID-19 app issues

Most users who downloaded the SASSA COVID-19 SRD App were met with an error message explaining that they should try again later due to “high call volumes”.

“Welcome to SASSA COVID-19 SRD App, due to high call volumes please try again later or visit our other application channels.”

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One user persisted and the application “finally went through”. Another user suggested that South Africans should “keeping trying the USSD line until it goes through”.

Sassa WhatsApp issues

Several users stated that they received no response from the WhatsApp helpline. It’s important for those who do get a response to note that only certain words will trigger a response from the Chatbot, such as “help”.

One user suggested that “somebody please hotspot Sassa”, while another said that “some of us won’t get the stipend because we don’t have enough data”, and added:

“We are getting our stipend on the 15th and they know that at this point in time we won’t be able to afford data bundles”.

How to access the COVID-19 grant system?

According to Sassa, the grant will be “available to South African citizens, Permanent Residents or Refugees registered on the Home Affairs system, who are residents within the borders of the Republic of South Africa”.

Applicants must be:

  • Above the age of 18
  • Unemployed
  • Not receiving any income
  • Not receiving any social grant
  • Not receiving any unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive unemployment insurance benefits
  • Not receiving a stipend from the National Students Financial Aid Scheme, and
  • Not a resident in a government-funded or subsidised institution

Applicants will need to provide the following documents:

  • Identity number or Department of Home Affairs permit
  • Name and Surname as captured on the Identity document
  • Gender and Disability
  • Banking details: Bank name and account number
  • Contact details: Cellphone number
  • Proof of residential address.

Citizens can apply by messaging the the WhatsApp line on 082 0468 533, or access the USSD system by daililng *134*7737#.



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