NATIONAL NEWS - The DA in the Western Cape notes with great dismay that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has once again failed its beneficiaries by failing to pay-out Social Relief Distress Grant as expected on 6 May 2021.
As we have yet to embark on phase 2 of the vaccination process in South Africa, many individuals cannot return to work fulltime to generate income and the effects of the lockdown is still very much with us.
As a result, many rely on grants as their main source of income.
Tomorrow 13 May 2021, I will be meeting with the Acting Regional Head Officer, Mr Abraham Mahlangu to discuss amongst others what appears to be systemic issues, and the lack of consequence management that stands between much needed basic support to the most vulnerable in society.
The matter is even more of a concern following the slow process of on 30 000 Temporary Disability Grant pay-outs in the Western Cape which took over 1 year to resolve.
The ongoing challenges at SASSA forms part of broader challenges faced in the social development sector, this was made very clear by the NGOs and interest groups at The Portfolio Committee on Social Development’s discussion of the Children’s Amendment Bill, yesterday 11 May 2021.
The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape will use its oversight mandate through provincial parliament to ensure SASSA carries out its mandate effectively and provide a reliable safety-net to the most vulnerable in the province.
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