⁠ ⁠Behind the numbers published by the media when reporting on disasters are the real people impacted by the dramatic events.
•⁠ ⁠It is during such times that the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) steps up to provide essential help.
•⁠ ⁠This can be seen in Sassa’s response to the recent floods in the Northern Cape, where the agency provided vital support through the Social Relief of Distress programme.

The recent floods and heavy rains in parts of the Frances Baard District Municipality, in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, did not just damage homes and possessions – they undermined the fragile sense of stability that many families had painstakingly built.

For those living on the margins, a single storm can unravel livelihoods, displace families, and deepen uncertainty.

In the aftermath, the Social Relief of Distress programme administered by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offered a vital form of support. Designed for moments like these, the Social Relief of Distress programme allows the state to respond quickly and with empathy when disaster strikes.

It is important to emphasise: the Social Relief of Distress is not charity. It is rooted in our constitutional values and in the understanding that the government’s role is not simply to deliver services, but to uphold human dignity.

Between April and May 2025, intense rainfall caused widespread damage in communities such as Gong Gong, Pniel, Riverton, and Killarney.

Many families lost not only furniture and clothing but also essential documents and school uniforms. Sassa teams were dispatched to assess the situation, and 58 households have since received once-off cash payments of R2 310 – aligned with the Older Person’s Grant.

In addition, 14 school uniforms were provided to affected learners. The total value of this support was R209 780.

Behind those numbers are real people – a child whose mattress was washed away, a grandmother without a bed. These are not statistics; they are stories that remind us why rapid, human-centred responses matter.

The Social Relief of Distress programme is one of the government’s more agile tools. Whether in the form of cash, uniforms, or food parcels, it is about meeting people where they are, helping them to regain a sense of control, and restoring not just material possessions but personal dignity.

The programme operates under the Sassa Act and its regulations, ensuring that assistance is lawful, targeted, and needs-based.

For the 2025/26 financial year, resources have been allocated to ensure that such interventions continue when most needed.

In the previous year, more than 1 500 individuals and families in the Northern Cape received support through this programme during times of crisis.

Having worked closely with affected communities, I have seen how resilience often comes hand-in-hand with timely support.

But a fast, effective response requires collaboration.

Municipalities play a key role in verifying and submitting the names of affected households. Without that information, even the most well-intentioned response can fall short.

The public also has a role to play – reporting cases of hardship to their local authorities to ensure the information reaches Sassa quickly.

The Social Relief of Distress programme may not always make headlines, but its impact is deeply felt. It helps children stay in school. It gives families a way to begin again. And most importantly, it sends a message: that in difficult times, people are not alone.

•⁠ ⁠Lungelo Mkamba is the Northern Cape Sassa spokesperson. This opinion piece first appeared in the Diamond Fields Advertiser on 2 June 2025.