Social Development Minister Dina Pule says she was overwhelmed by the large numbers of beneficiaries queuing at SASSA offices in Cape Town, highlighting the growing demand for social assistance across South Africa.
Pule made the comments during an oversight visit to the SASSA offices in Khayelitsha and Bellville on Thursday, where she met with officials and beneficiaries to hear about the challenges they face.
Lengthy queues
The minister said the lengthy queues in Khayelitsha demonstrated the significant demand for both SASSA’s services and the social grants administered by the agency.
“In Khayelitsha, you have seen the number of people that are there. I was also overwhelmed myself with the numbers there and what it means for us,” Pule said.
She said the situation demonstrated that there was substantial demand for the work carried out by SASSA, as well as for the grants that provide financial support to millions of South Africans.
“It means there is so much demand for SASSA and the work that SASSA does. But also there is so much demand for the grants,” she added.
Thousands affected by Northern Cape grant stoppages
The minister’s comments come as thousands of beneficiaries in the Northern Cape were left without their social grant payments after failing to participate in SASSA’s annual review process.
SASSA withheld payments for more than 7 000 beneficiaries who did not make themselves available for the required review.
The annual review process is used by SASSA to verify beneficiaries’ information and determine whether they continue to meet the requirements for receiving social grants.
Affected beneficiaries have been urged to update their details and complete the necessary compliance requirements to avoid further interruptions to their payments.
Highlights the challenges
The developments highlight the challenges facing both beneficiaries and the social security system, as large numbers of people continue to rely on grants while SASSA works to ensure that payments are made only to those who remain eligible.
Pule’s visit to the Western Cape offices forms part of government oversight efforts aimed at understanding the challenges experienced by beneficiaries and SASSA officials on the ground.
The long queues in Khayelitsha and Bellville have once again placed the accessibility and efficiency of social grant services in the spotlight, particularly for beneficiaries who depend on their monthly payments for essential household expenses.
