Social Development
With regard to beneficiaries sleeping outside the Bellville Sassa office:
Whether he has received feedback from Sassa about the matter; if so, what are the relevant details?
When I was alerted to the issues beneficiaries were experiencing at the Bellville and Eerste River SASSA offices, I immediately contacted SASSA’s provincial management for answers. This was the response:
The SASSA Belville and Eerste River Offices are currently experiencing high influxes of clients.
This is as a result of:
• Clients whose temporary disability grants have lapsed and who require a reapplication
• Migration of clients from other Provinces who require SASSA services
Coupled with capacity constraints and the high unemployment rate in South Africa, there is a significantly high demand for services at SASSA Offices.
SASSA implemented an appointment system to ensure that every client who accesses our contact points, is duly assisted.
Services at our offices are segregated per grant type day as follows:
Monday Old Age Grant
Tuesday Disability Grant
Wednesday Disability Grant
Thursday Child Support Grant
Friday Appointments
In addition to Tuesdays that are allocated for Disability Grants there is a dedicated back- office team appointed to specifically focus on Disability Grant applications on a daily basis.
To fast track the Disability Grant application process, our officials further assist with the completion of Disability Grant applications on the day of assessment at the following clinics in the Metro:
• Delft Clinic
• Symphony Way Clinic
• Bishop Lavis Clinic
Despite the appointment system in place, clients still choose to sleep over at contact points for assistance. SASSA has consistently educated clients on the perils of sleeping over , yet clients still choose to do so. Ultimately this is beyond SASSA’s control.
In certain instances clients feel disgruntled if they are given appointments and not immediately assisted with social grant applications. SASSA staff have been threatened by clients and this has resulted in a steadily rising absenteeism rate at some of our contact points.
Our staff often function in highly stressful environments.
Despite the challenges we remain committed to serving to the best of our ability. The relevant Managers are monitoring the concerning Offices.
Will keep you updated.
