SASSA's attempts to reduce snaking queues not working - Social Dev committee's Masango
Parliament's Social Development committee chairperson, Bridget Masango has asked Minister Sisisi Tolashe to look at the problems, saying she fears for the safety of the many vulnerable people who queue for days to get assistance.
Queues for social grants in Kuyasa, Cape Town. Beneficiaries of the Social Relief of Distress Grant are struggling with identity verification processes. Picture: Mary-Anne Gontsana/GroundUp
CAPE TOWN - The chairperson of Parliament’s Social Development committee Bridget Masango says the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)’s attempts to alleviate snaking queues at its offices are not working.
She’s asked the new Minister Sisisi Tolashe to look at the problems, saying she fears for the safety of the many vulnerable people who queue for days to get assistance.
The minister has also agreed to a wider probe into fraud within the grants application system after preliminary findings into the social relief of distress grant revealed vulnerabilities.
Masango said the queue management systems implemented by SASSA over the years are not having the desired effect.
She said regular oversight visits to SASSA offices have revealed a myriad of problems, while call centres are not able to answer clients’ questions.
“SASSA’s client-facing positions are not on the field. People walk in there and there are only two cubicles that are working, and those two cubicles are using one computer, and these two people can’t work at the same time to service the clients.”
She added that dedicated days to assist with a particular category of grants have also not alleviated the perennial queuing problem.
“We’ve really made a point of saying to the minister that these things cannot be left to continue.”
Masango said the committee is also expecting an extensive probe into grant applications to reveal the extent of weaknesses in the application system.