The DA has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu over the delay and non-payment of social grants in September.

The party also included the South African Social Security Agency and Postbank in its complaint. 

The move comes after some 600,000 grant beneficiaries were left with empty pockets due to what has been described as a technical glitch at the state-owned bank.

The figure represents some 10% of the more than 5 million beneficiaries who access their grants through Postbank.

The DA's Bridget Masango, who lodged the complaint at the commission’s offices in Johannesburg on Tuesday, said the government is failing to protect the rights and dignity of its citizens.

"The core issues at the heart of our grievance encompass the right to human dignity. Delayed grant payments have plunged the poorest among us into profound suffering, impacting their dignity significantly.

“Delays in accessing funds for food and medicine have placed the lives of grant recipients at risk, leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition and illness.

 Masango says the latest grant payment debacle also affected vulnerable South Africans’ right to healthcare, food, water, and social security.

“The failure to ensure timely payments directly infringes upon the rights of citizens to social security, significantly impacting their ability to afford essential food and healthcare. Grant payment failures disproportionately affect children, compromising their right to nutrition, shelter, basic health services, and social services," added Masango.