I have written to the National Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, to request an urgent meeting regarding the serious concerns I have with the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) inability to secure proper office space for the benefit of vulnerable Western Cape citizens who depend on social assistance.
Presently, SASSA Western Cape is rendering services at the following buildings owned and used by the Western Cape Government: Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Eerste River service centres.
SASSA is a national entity that reports directly to the National Department of Social Development and does not form part of provincial departments.
The recent developments at our Khayelitsha shared services office have resulted in numerous aggrieved SASSA clients contacting DSD offices and threatening our staff. Furthermore, I fear we may experience a similar breakdown at our other shared facilities.
We wish to note the following concerns amongst others at the abovementioned shared facilities:
Even though SASSA is a national entity and not under the jurisdiction of the Western Cape Government, we wish to stress the importance of cooperation in an effort to find solutions to resolve the plight of the most vulnerable in our province.
Joshua Covenant Chigome
Spokesperson for the Minister of Social Development, Minister Sharna Fernandez
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 083 661 4949