never received maternity benefits for almost 5 months after applying

I am writing this with heavy heart and disappointment with our government institutions

I app**** for my Maternity benefit this year January at Sandton Labour center and waited and waited for my payment nothing happened for 3 months , I went to check what was happening with my application only to find that they lost my application, fine I did another application submitted all the relevant documents in April I was told after 7 days everything was going to be paid out .I waited and waited nothing I went there again and got turned away with a continuation form to send via email . I did that 5 times already no one responds to that email or call me . its been 7 months since my child was born and I still haven’t received the money that is due to me . I called the center today I was told to go there again . What is that I need to do exactly to get my money . I am broke I have debts that I need to pay I am always short because the money that was supposed to cover the gap while I was on my maternity leave never even showed up. Why do I have to suffer in order to get the money that is mine that I pay every month