Question NW3580 to the Minister of Social Development
27 November 2023 - NW3580
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether, considering that about 250 persons from Hopefield are unable to get to the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) office in Vredenburg (details furnished), and noting that they also have no guarantee of being assisted as they need to make an appointment to go to the SASSA office (details furnished), SASSA has a policy regarding site visits and/or pop-up satellite stations to take services to the communities who have difficulty in accessing the SASSA offices; if not, why not; if so, what is the criteria for requesting such a service in an area which is not accessible to the community; (2) given that the specified persons from Hopefield have difficulty in accessing the in-services, how will the SASSA office make provision for such persons to obtain the proper advice and/or services in their communities; (3) whether she and/or her department intends to assist the residents in Hopefield who have switched to bank accounts, but have not received their grant payments and are unable to travel to the nearest SASSA office; if not; why not; if so, by what date?
Reply:
BACKGROUND
The Saldanha Bay Municipality has a population of 154 635 according to Census 2022 spread over eight major towns where SASSA office was rendering its services. Prior to the onset of COVID-19, the office had 10 Grant Administrators- split into two teams to service the Vredenburg Office and linked service points. Over the past two years, the Vredenburg Office lost a total of fourteen officials due to various reasons. Unfortunately, the National Treasury placed a moratorium on the filling of vacant positions, which resulted in the closure of the office.
After noticing the growing number of applicants, SASSA decided to re-open the service point on an appointment basis, which has proven to be an effective way.
1. The SASSA policy norms and standards defines access to a service point to be within a 25-kilometre radius. To cater for the needs of the community, SASSA has negotiated with the Saldanha Bay Municipality to allow clients to utilise the Hopefield Thusong Centre to access the SASSA online application system free of charge with the assistance of the centre manager.
SASSA also does conduct home visits for frail/ sick clients who cannot access the offices. A request is generally made through the local office.
2. The Hopefield Thusong Centre serves as an access point where clients have access to use the SASSA online application free of charge. The Centre Manager also facilities the online application for clients who are not computer literate.
3.Beneficiaries in Hopefield who have switched to other banks but have not yet received their payments can still access their social grants using their Postbank card. SASSA has made arrangements for officials to visit Thusong Centre on 20 November 2023 to solve beneficiary concerns. Regarding beneficiaries who want to change to other banks, forms will be made available on the same day.