The provincial secretary, Packet Seaketso, says the recent issues with the agency pay-out to grant recipients is nothing but a slap in the face of the poor.

Disgruntled grant recipients took Sassa employees hostage on Wednesday in villages on the outskirts of Mahikeng. This comes after they were told to go home without receiving their monthly grant payment.

He also reacted to allegations that the agency is giving food parcels to the beneficiaries, saying it’s an insult and unacceptable.

"As Sanco we feel that it is an insult and that it is unacceptable. You cannot fail to pay someone and then give them food. People are not just living on food, yes they need food but they have other financial responsibilities that they need the grant money for." 

Meanwhile, North West Sassa Regional spokesperson, Nthabiseng Mosieleng, has poured cold water on the allegations that they are insulting the grants recipients.

She says this after the CEO, Abraham Mhlangu, made a commitment to relieve those who were in dire distress following the system failure.

OFM News/Sazly Hartzenberg and Thamsanqa Ka'Mkuyane