It was a cold and overcast day in Cape Town's city centre on Thursday, where more than 100 people joined the queue snaking around the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices in Long mid-morning, some people were sitting on the ground or in camping chairs, while others with children stood around cars parked nearby, as they waited for the line to move.
A notice at the entrance reads: "Dear Sassa client please be informed that Sassa Cape Town local office will be able to assist only 70 clients a day due to the Level 4 lockdown regulation which requires 1/3 of the compliment in an office."
It said "Wednesdays and Thursdays are the child support and foster child grants".
Denise, who asked that GroundUp withhold her surname, said she arrived at about 04:00 on Thursday to apply for a foster care child grant.
It appeared highly likely that most people in line would have to return next week because Fridays are reserved for disability grant applicants.
