Question NW901 to the Minister of Social Development:
24 March 2025 - NW901
Machi, Ms BE to ask the Minister of Social Development:
What are the relevant details of (a) the total number of additional service sites and mobile offices that her department intends to set up in rural areas and (b) how quickly such changes will be implemented?
Reply:
A) By 2024, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) had expanded its service centres from 389 to 432, encompassing both urban and rural areas. In addition, SASSA operates 973 service points, which are attended to by mobile teams on a scheduled basis. These service points are established based on community service demands and are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet these needs.
Over and above the above, SASSA employs the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) strategy to reach underserved communities, including rural areas. SASSA has planned 516 targeted outreach initiatives for the next financial year (2025/26).
b) SASSA regularly assesses the need for service points. Since service points utilize existing resources, their establishment is expedited. The process involves coordinating with communities or traditional leaders, or municipalities, to secure venues for mobile teams to operate.