uMfolozi residents accuse SASSA of neglect
They claim they have been waiting for food relief from SASSA for almost three weeks
SCORES of needy communities in Ward 8 of the uMfolozi Municipality have lambasted the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for ‘neglecting them’.
They claim they have been waiting for food relief from SASSA for almost three weeks.
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One concerned resident, Phumuzumlomo Nxele (59), said, they registered for food relief through the uMfolozi Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme last month.
‘We received a call from SASSA officials to meet them behind the Empangeni post office to collect our food parcels on Friday, 15 May.
‘I was forced to borrow money from my neighbour so that I could go to Empangeni.
‘I waited for more than five hours for SASSA officials to arrive. I eventually phoned SASSA and was told the delivery truck mistakenly went to eSikhaleni.
‘I was told the entire load was dropped off there, but the official promised to dispatch another truck. At about 4pm, SASSA officials arrived empty-handed.
‘They apologised and said their delivery truck experienced a mechanical breakdown, which was contrary to what they said earlier.
‘They promised to contact us on the Monday, but that did not happen. They are not even answering their office phones. They are dodging us while hunger is killing us and we have no food to eat. I have escalated the matter to our local mayor, Cllr Simangaliso Mgenge.’
Ward 8 war room chairperson, Nkanyiso Zulu, said 80 people have been approved by SASSA to benefit from the food relief programme.
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‘We were recently told to select only 10 out of the 80 approved beneficiaries,’ Zulu said.
uMfolozi Municipality communications manager, Philani Khumalo, said the mayor was aware of the matter and was working on it.
KZN SASSA spokesperson, Sandy Godlwana, said the screening results of all those who applied for social relief were submitted to the Department of Social Development to avoid duplication.
‘The food parcels were purchased, but were not handed over to the beneficiaries at the time as some staff are not in office owing to the lockdown.
‘Our role as SASSA was to assist with the quality checking of the lists, and who qualifies. We have informed the Department of Social Development that food parcels were not yet delivered,’ said Godlwana.
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