15 November 2024
Long queues in February 2024 outside the SASSA office in Khayelitsha. Archive photo: Mary-Anne Gontsana
Tensions ran high during a debate at the Western Cape legislature on Thursday. MPLs voiced their frustrations over failures by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to provide adequate services to the province’s social grant recipients.
Wendy Kaizer-Philander (DA) opened the debate by condemning the situation and describing the failure of SASSA as a crisis. “Social grants are more than just a financial transaction,” she said. “It’s a promise that, regardless of your circumstances, the government will provide a basic level of support.”
About 45% of the country depends on social grants.
Kaizer-Philander said grants are a lifeline for many, and the ongoing delays have left families in “unacceptable” conditions.
“While people suffer and wait, SASSA’s leadership remains untouched, shielded by bureaucracy, and comforted by perks and bonuses,” she said.
She called for the resignation of SASSA CEO Busisiwe Memela, saying she has failed to address the longstanding issues at SASSA since taking office in 2019. “Under her leadership, it has gotten worse,” she said.
Donita Stephens (PA) was equally scathing. “The high level of corruption and incompetence at SASSA calls for the immediate resignation of the CEO who is clearly unfit to hold office,” she said.
“The malfunctioning IT systems and endless delays are causing widespread suffering,” said Stevens.
She said beneficiaries often face long queues or are left without payments for months. She called for a commission of inquiry to investigate fraud and corruption in the agency.
Francois Kamfer (ANC) acknowledged the challenges but said the provincial government must do more than merely “highlight the problems”.
“People in the Western Cape deserve more than just discussions. They deserve action and work towards solutions,” he said.
He pointed to difficulties in Khayelitsha and Eersteriver, where infrastructure delays at SASSA offices have made matters worse. He urged the provincial government to release land for more SASSA offices to be built.
Rachel Windvogel (ANC) said, “We need to stop the blame game. The MEC is responsible for raising these issues at the MinMEC [meetings of the Minister and MECs] and with all the role-players. But he is nowhere to be found. Dololo. Stop the hypocrisy,” she said.
Windvogel said grant payment delays were not solely a SASSA problem but linked to challenges within the South African Post Office.
“SASSA has tirelessly advocated for grant beneficiaries to change their payment methods. Yet many are reluctant to do so. It is high time that the public representatives in this house step up and assist in this regard instead of engaging in armchair criticism,” said Windvogel.
Provincial DSD MEC Jaco Londt (DA) said SASSA’s service was “not a complete failure, but it’s not optimal”. He said over 1.7 million people in the province received social grants in October.
He said the Western Cape government had taken proactive steps to address the issue, including holding monthly meetings with SASSA’s leadership.
Londt said there were higher rates of disability grant approvals in the province than nationally.
“From July to September 2024, 75% of disability grants were processed in the Western Cape, compared to just 40% nationwide,” Londt said.
Londt said staffing shortages and infrastructure issues continued to constrain SASSA’s ability. He called for more resources to be allocated to SASSA to address the growing needs of the province’s most vulnerable.