UWC study finds litany of problems mothers and caregivers experience at Sassa offices.

For many mothers in Langa, delaying a Child Support Grant (CSG) application is not a choice. A University of the Western Cape (UWC) study found that most mothers and caregivers interviewed waited beyond their babies’ first three months to apply, due to barriers ranging from childcare and cultural practices to concerns about their babies’ well-being and difficulties obtaining essential documents.

For some mothers taking a newborn to a South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) office was a concern in itself. Some expressed worry that exposing a very young baby to harsh weather, public spaces and long journeys could make their babies sick.

Some believed they should wait until the baby was older or had reached certain milestones, such as waiting for the umbilical cord to fall off before venturing out of their homes.

Child care and cultural practices

Child-care arrangements were difficult to navigate, with mothers reporting they were sometimes forced to wait until they could find someone to assist with the baby before applying.

Cultural practices also influenced the timing of applications, with some mothers observing traditions of remaining indoors for the first week or two after childbirth and avoiding public spaces.

Although this period was generally shorter than three months the study found that many mothers ultimately delayed their applications for much longer.

Long queues and safety fears

Long queues were a major obstacle, with some mothers reporting they had to wake up as early as 03:00 or 04:00 to stand a chance of being helped. Some even paid others to queue on their behalf or borrowed money to do so. For some, the experience was not only frustrating but frightening, with some fearing being robbed or attacked on their way to the Sassa offices.

The study also found that understaffing and technical problems, including periods when the system was offline, disrupted services and caused some applicants to return home without completing their applications.

Documentation and confusion

Documentation was another significant barrier. Mothers reported difficulties in obtaining identity documents, birth certificates and proof of employment or unemployment. In some cases, they were asked for additional documents that were difficult or costly to obtain.

The application process itself was described as confusing by some participants, who reported standing in the wrong queue for hours, only to discover that they needed to start again or return another day.

Why the first 1 000 days matter

UWC Master of Public Health student Inathi Maxhakana, supervised by Dr Thubelihle Mathole and Prof Wanga Zembe-Mkabile from the School of Public Health (SOPH), explored why mothers and primary caregivers delayed applying for the CSG, despite it being one of South Africa’s largest social protection programmes. Prof Zembe-Mkabile is also a Chief Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

Maxhakana interviewed 30 mothers and primary caregivers in Langa whose children were under six years. Most applied after three months. Existing research shows that receiving the CSG within the first three months of life can help protect children against stunting during the critical first 1 000 days, when the brain, body and immune system develop faster than at any other time in life, laying the permanent foundation for future health, learning and success.

South Africa has more than 13 million children receiving the CSG, with national uptake estimated at around 80%. However, uptake among children younger than one remains below 50%, with many mothers only applying several months after giving birth.

Call for reform

Maxhakana argues that improving access requires more than simply encouraging mothers to apply. Clearer application procedures and sufficient staffing at Sassa would encourage mothers to apply on time. “These findings point out the need to develop new strategies to help reduce the existing barriers,” Maxhakana said. “Ensuring early birth registration and document linkage between Sassa and the Department of Labour helps reduce barriers to documentation. These strategies could ensure a better and smoother application for CSG applicants.”

Fact box: Child Support Grant

The CSG is a monthly social grant provided by the South African government to help primary caregivers meet the basic needs of children under 18.

To qualify, the caregiver and child must live in South Africa, and the caregiver must be a South African citizen, a permanent resident, or a recognised refugee. Applicants must also pass a means test assessing their financial circumstances.

To apply, caregivers need their identity document, the child’s birth certificate, and documents related to their marital status and financial circumstances.

Applications can be made through Sassa offices or its online services. Timely access is particularly important during the early years of a child’s development.

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