Sassa clients wait hours in queue at Checkers Norkem Park
An additional till point was opened in an effort to assist with faster payouts, said head office
Sassa grant recipients had to queue for about three hours at Checkers Norkem Park on November 1, as only one till point was made available to them.
Sassa beneficiary Norman Louw claimed the new store manager did nothing to alleviate the problem.
He said Sassa pensioners were forced to stand in one queue of nearly 250 senior citizens to collect their monthly payouts.
The previous managers allowed three or four pay-out points, he said.
“The senior citizens who struggled the most were those walking with crutches. Some older women who suffer from bad blood circulation had to sit on the cold floor. When I approached the store manager, he refused point-blank to open another till.”
Checkers head office apologised for the “inadequate support” Louw and other beneficiaries received.
“We understand the frustration grant recipients experience when having to queue, but unfortunately we are only able to process grant payments through a limited number of till points in each store as we also need to continue to service our other customers.”
Checkers also said Louw was assisted when he voiced concern with branch management.
Another reason that might have led to the unpleasant waiting period that day seemed to have been the greater influx of grant recipients in comparison to previous months while the store was being refurbished.
“An additional till point was opened in an effort to assist with faster payouts.”
Shoprite Checkers said it had been facilitating the payment of grants for years as a social service to consumers, many of whom previously had to travel great distances to pay-points.
“We realise the importance of this service to grant recipients and we continue to look at improved payout procedures and queuing systems at our stores.”
