TimesLIVE reported that earlier this year the National Treasury allocated R2.1bn to extend the grant until the end of the month. Explaining the glitch, the department said the end of March is the end of the financial year for the government and various administrative tasks are required before any payments which relate to the previous financial year can be made. “Sassa is busy with these end-of-financial-year tasks, which has delayed payment. Sassa received confirmation of the extension of the relief grant on February 11, after all its administration systems had in fact been closed at the end of January, which was the previously announced closing date for this grant,” said department spokesperson Sandy Godlwana in a statement.