Service-delivery woes in Wards 100 and 114 are a never-ending concern to which affected residents have become immune.
However, the inability by South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to pay the special Covid-19 social relief grants and other disability grants to the residents is a huge issue they cannot ignore.
To provide clarity and hope to the struggling and despondent residents was DA Shadow MMC for Community Development, councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, who roped in the DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridgette Masango for this task.
The duo, along with the local committee members conducted block meetings in Zandspruit, Cosmo City and Itsoseng informal settlement, also known as Eskom on Thursday, 1 October. Bridgette engaged the public on their grievances and how her office planned to hold the Department of Social Development accountable over the claims.
The most aggrieved SASSA beneficiaries either complained about receiving one payment only of the Covid-19 relief grant of R350, or nothing at all. Others complained about technical and service-related issues at the branches where they’ve attempted to seek help.
Bridgette, who showed no surprise over the issues, provided an overview of the problem at SASSA. “As a member of Parliament in the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, one has a responsibility to ensure that the services that we as parliamentarians have approved budgets for reach the people. However, the history with SASSA in the country is such that those approved services are not reaching the people,” she explained.
Attesting to the failures of this state-owned entity, she pointed out that SASSA faces over 20 000 fraud cases and has R2,8 million outstanding, which is money that is meant for the people.
“The purpose of my being invited to this area was to give account, because we are supposed to do so to the people of this country who pay taxes to get the services,” she clarified her duty.
She added that part of her mission was to give advice and guidance, and tell the community about the plans to resolve the SASSA issues.
When asked about the time frame for her response to the frustrated residents, Bridgette explained, “The turnaround of each problem will be relative to the seriousness of the matter. However, as parliamentarians we’ve been given a very senior representative of SASSA to deal with blockages,” she assured.
Apart from the issue of the grant, Bridgette also expressed disappointment in the lack of interests from social workers and the department for not heeding the pleas of this community. “Besides the prevalent questions of the R350 grant payments, I had to deal with orphans and disabled persons who are unable to apply for government services,” she lamented.
Adding her two cents, Belinda, who represents both wards, criticised the government for using ground visits as events. “Taking the government to the people shouldn’t be an event but a norm. As public representatives, we should be accessible to the people because the people on the street might not know how to access the services, and if we don’t come to them they will never get their issues resolved,” she concluded.
