Question NW2848 to the Minister of Social Development
04 October 2023 - NW2848
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether the shortage of client-facing staff and resources is the true reason for not reintroducing the service of bringing the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) services to communities via community halls (details furnished); if not, what are the reasons that the SASSA no longer offers the specified service; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) by what date will (a) SASSA fill the many client-facing level vacancies at local offices, (b) communities expect the reintroduction of the services within the nine provinces and (c) SASSA (i) communicate and (ii) advertise a rotational roster including dates, times and venues for the service to communities?
Reply:
1. SASSA suspended outreach programmes during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in line with the national state of disaster regulations. Subsequent to the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, SASSA gradually commenced with restoring all direct client services. To date, the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) is being implemented by local offices in all nine provinces.
2. Refer to Annexure A
(a) The government wide cuts to the Compensation of Employees (COE) budgets across Government has adversely the filing positions within SASSA. SASSA continues to prioritise the filling of funded posts, with specific focus on front- line staff (based at local offices) with the limited resources allocated each financial year. SASSA is also looking at innovative ways (including digitisation of certain functions) to reduce the demand for direct interaction with clients. In addition to this, it is important for the Honourable to note:
- Currently there are 7 433 posts filled. Of this number, 4 994 (67%) of the are based at local office layer, which forms part of the front-line staff;
- Filling of some of the posts has been put on hold due to the Business Process Re-Engineering currently underway. This might result in the adoption of a new organisational structure in line with the strategic plan.
- The National Treasury’s Cost Containment Circular directs all departments and agencies, SASSA included, to absorb the wage bills from their respective allocation of the Compensation of Employees budget.
(b) Refer to (a) and (b) above.
(c) Refer to 1 above. The implementation of ICROP is ongoing and SASSA utilises local media, including community radio stations and tribal councils to inform local communities.
- Breakdown of the filling of posts within the Local Offices in each SASSA Regional Office:
|
REGION |
2020/2021 FY |
2021/2022 FY |
2022/2023 FY |
2023/2024 FY
|
|||||||||
|
FILLED LOCAL OFFICE POSTS |
APPROVED FUNDED VACANCIES - LOCAL OFFICE |
TERMINATIONS |
FILLED LOCAL OFFICE POSTS |
APPROVED FUNDED VACANCIES - LOCAL OFFICE |
TERMINATIONS |
FILLED LOCAL OFFICE POSTS |
APPROVED FUNDED VACANCIES - LOCAL OFFICE |
TERMINATIONS |
FILLED LOCAL OFFICE POSTS |
APPROVED FUNDED VACANCIES - LOCAL OFFICE |
RECOMMEDED (STILL TO BE APPROVED) |
TERMINATIONS |
|
|
EC |
875 |
14 |
47 |
885 |
12 |
32 |
885 |
5 |
35 |
867 |
3 |
11 |
12 |
|
FS |
336 |
4 |
10 |
306 |
10 |
15 |
311 |
2 |
10 |
302 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
|
GP |
644 |
13 |
16 |
624 |
5 |
19 |
611 |
4 |
18 |
603 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
|
KZN |
1148 |
22 |
52 |
1112 |
45 |
26 |
1102 |
4 |
25 |
1095 |
3 |
17 |
8 |
|
LP |
629 |
16 |
29 |
604 |
12 |
21 |
581 |
5 |
24 |
575 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
|
MP |
343 |
6 |
9 |
350 |
14 |
4 |
343 |
6 |
8 |
340 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
|
NW |
464 |
14 |
12 |
453 |
4 |
10 |
437 |
1 |
25 |
434 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
|
NC |
281 |
7 |
7 |
280 |
14 |
11 |
273 |
10 |
12 |
271 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
WC |
569 |
16 |
24 |
535 |
10 |
11 |
518 |
9 |
18 |
507 |
7 |
3 |
11 |
|
Grand Total |
5289 |
112 |
206 |
5149 |
126 |
149 |
5061 |
46 |
175 |
4994 |
33 |
74 |
54 |
(b) All services have been restored post COVID.
(c) The schedule for community outreaches are planned with key local stakeholders through the various local stakeholder forums; who also assists with informing the communities on the planned activities. SASSA also conducts “loud hailing” before the outreach.