A government agency meant to help South Africans is making matters worse.
Since the 2019 Covid-19 social distress grant of R350, South Africans have complained that Sassa’s standards have dropped, discouraging residents from applying for aid.
Lindiwe Zulu, minister of social development, said Sassa was ready for the expected influx of grant applications. The website’s header says, “Paying the right social grant, to the right person, at the right time and place, Njalo!”
Cornelia de Bruin from the East Rand said her Sassa experience in Germiston left her reeling.
We applied for Sassa because we’re my family’s main breadwinners. Our area collects recycling bags and sells them at a depot. We’re lucky to make R300 per bag between the two of us,” she said.
Before the lockdown was lifted, both sisters received their R350 promptly, but after the DSD increased the threshold in April, problems began.
“We were approved when we applied, but on May 1st, we got nothing. I’m still waiting for April, May, and June payments. I’m sick of their petty excuses for not giving us the grant.
“I can’t keep buying airtime and data to reapply or check if they’ve fixed it. Sassa’s actions are unfair. Why must we fight for R350? “De Bruin”
Veli Zulu has been fighting for his money due to a digital issue. Zulu changed an old cellphone number with third-party help to get R350.
Every Sassa employee he met told him to send his details to Sassa’s SMS line for a one-time PIN to change his details, but he has no internet access or data. Sassa’s toll-free customer service line automatically ended calls when the queue was full.
Evashnee Naidu, Black Sash’s KwaZulu-Natal regional manager, said Sassa’s inability to be proactive in helping South Africans shows the government’s shortsightedness on digitising the grant application process.
Naidu said access to smart devices and digital literacy eliminate applicants for social grants for the elderly and unemployed.
“To apply for this grant, you need a smartphone or internet-connected device. The entire questionnaire is in English, assuming the applicants’ language and literacy, Naidu said.
Naidu said the DSD’s use of outdated information from third-party organizations assisting Sassa and the government’s reluctance to update beneficiary information contributed to the consequences residents face over Sassa directors’ decisions.
The tedious, invasive application process and government’s stagnant efforts to resolve issues turned South Africans away from social distress grant queues. Sassa’s revised rules included self-exclusion.
If your grandfather or a family member gave you R350, you wouldn’t need the grant and would be excluded.
In June 2022, Black Sash visited branches across the country and found beneficiaries in long lines without clean water or ablution facilities. Self-appointed, rude “queue managers” made the wait for pay difficult. Naidu’s nightmare.
“Because of cash delays or insufficient cash at SAPO branches, grant recipients must return the next day. Many in the grant line haven’t eaten. Some beneficiaries may have gone without food for a day or more, she said.
The Sunday Independent’s queries went unanswered. – More on IOL
