Many SASSA beneficiaries have been forced to brave the various extreme weather conditions currently happening in South Africa. This is all in a bid to get service from the agency’s offices.
Lester Kiewit with the CapeTalk Good Morning Cape Town team took to the streets on Tuesday morning, 3 December 2024, as grant payments for December kicked off in the country. In a video shared by the radio station, a long line can be seen of people queuing outside the SASSA offices in Belville. Here’s more on the report revealing what SASSA beneficiaries are experiencing.
SASSA BENEFICIARIES SLEEP OUTSIDE OFFICES TO GET SERVICES
There are numerous issues that SASSA beneficiaries face, including during the grant application process. Dozens of people were already queuing outside, with some having slept there. The caption for the video posted by the radio station on Instagram said: “More than a hundred people are waiting in the line ahead of the office opening at [7:30]. Many have camped outside the office since the day before to secure their spot in the line.”
REASONS FOR THE ISSUES AT SASSA
Speaking to the Standing Committee on Social Development Chairperson in the Western Cape, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, CapeTalk reported some of the causes for the issues at SASSA. Kaizer-Philander detailed the reasons for the concerns after inviting SASSA officials to appear before the committee this week.
“Budgetary constraints plays a vital role in it, but what we heard yesterday from the head of SASSA national, especially in terms of human resources, I mean, if someone is in service [at SASSA]…and they leave…it is not guaranteed that position will be filled.
“When that person leaves, why is the position not filled? The clients cannot bear the brunt of SASSA national not filling those positions and that is a major concern.”
SASSA CLAIMS ‘SERVICES ARE NOT AT THE RISK OF COLLAPSING’
Eyewitness News reported on 3 December 2024 that SASSA insisted that their services were “not at the risk of collapsing.” This was while appearing before the DA committee in the Western Cape. According to the SASSA Western Cape acting regional manager, Michael Nhlangothi, they were working to overcome all these issues.
“We want to reassure the members of the standing committee that SASSA services are not at risk of collapsing. As a result, SASSA continues to provide dignified services to the citizens of Western Cape despite all challenges brought by fiscal pressures.”
SASSA ON ‘UNWARRANTED CRITICISM’
The agency said they have been subjected to media scrutiny. Nhlangothi said: “No doubt that a series of negative reporting focusing on two of our local offices, namely Bellville and Eerste Rivier, attracted attention and inevitably unwarranted criticism from various sectors.”
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE LACK OF PERSONNEL BEING THE REASON SASSA BENEFICIARIES HAVE TO BE IN LONG QUEUES?
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