SASSA beneficiaries turn the tables on agency officials

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2025 has been a tough year for SASSA beneficiaries. Uncertainty over grant increases back in April because of the budget delays dovetailed with other disruptions in service. The most recent issues stem from SASSA’s insistence on stricter biometric verification policies.

Now, embattled SASSA beneficiaries have turned the tables on agency officials. This week, grant recipients used an outreach programme meeting in Khayelitsha to air their grievances. Moreover, SASSA beneficiaries were promised a visit from Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe. But that never materialised.

SASSA BENEFICIARIES TURN THE TABLES

SASSA beneficiaries were addressed at an outreach programme meeting in Khayelitsha this week, but things turned heated quickly. Image: File

While the South African Social Security Agency insists it’s doing its best, SASSA beneficiaries see it different. Specifically, they complain about social grant applications being refused and long queues outside SASSA offices.

The outreach meeting was chaired by SASSA’s Freddie Sidali in the absence of the Social Development Minister, reports GroundUp. However, things quickly got heated when Sidali insisted the agency would not engage on various topics …

THIS IS NOT THE PLATFORM

SASSA beneficiaries have been trying to make ends meet with virtually nothing all year. And they face long queues and unhelpful government doctors. Image: File

“Without queues, there is no SASSA. So, the long queues that you see outside SASSA are confirmation that we are doing our part. But, today, we are not here to speak about the long queues, grant enquiries and so on. That is not the point of this meeting. Those questions will be discussed on a different platform,” said Sidali.

However, activist Sibongiseni Faku quickly clapped back. “We cannot sit in a meeting with SASSA and you tell us the minister is coming. You cannot tell SASSA beneficiaries that the problems our people encounter will not be discussed,” said Faku.

SASSA BENEFICIARIES AIR GRIEVANCES

The Black-to-Gold Postbank card swap was another agency debacle that brought untold misery to SASSA beneficiaries this year. Image: File

From there, various attendees aired their grievances with SASSA. A common issue was SASSA applicants not being approved by doctors to get disability grants, even though they are sick/injured. However, the most common was agency’s inability to solve long queues at SASSA offices.

One of the SASSA beneficiaries said she has to start queuing from as early as 03h00 if she wants to be helped. Sidali responded by explaining there are only 26 staff members at the Khayelitsha office. And each is mandated to assisted 20 SASSA beneficiaries per day. So, that adds up to just over 500 clients a day. Therefore, everyone else is turned away for the day …

SELF-SERVICE KIOSK

What can be done to solve some of these agency issues? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below. Image: File

One possible solution to assist workflow and lessen queues is the installation of a kiosk with a computer, scanner and printer. This would be able to assist SASSA beneficiaries who don’t have smartphones or internet access without having to see an agency official.

And the Department of Health says it plans to develop ways for government doctors to access SASSA beneficiaries medical information. That way time efficiency can be improved in the case of disability grant applications.