Closed on public holidays – and the day thereafter
The group of grant beneficiaries outside the office shared their frustration with the NEWS.
A notice outside the Krugersdorp South African Social Service Agency (Sassa) office in Von Brandis Street reads: “Closed on public holidays”, but it seems that the notice has to be adjusted with an add-on reading “and the day thereafter”.
The NEWS came across a group of disgruntled government grant beneficiaries outside the office on Wednesday 25 September (the day after Heritage Day) complaining that they have wasted most of their day waiting outside the building to be assisted with their grant and paperwork queries.
Krugersdorp resident Mark Fouché was one of the residents who waited in front of the clearly shut doors from 12am to 2.30pm when a notice reading: “The office will be closed at 2pm due to staff meeting” finally was put up.
“The security guard allowed people in individually up until 2pm. A group of us then waited our turn only to see a noticed being pasted on the door – much later – about an alleged staff meeting ,” says Fouché.
The group of grant beneficiaries outside the office shared their frustration with the NEWS.
Njongo Mtemby who travelled all the way from Magaliesburg to reapply for her child support grant explained that her biggest frustration is the wasted time she spends on the road travelling back and forth.
“I have to take a gamble. Although the office hours state 7.30am to 4pm staff make their own hours. I might spend my day in front of the building again tomorrow, just to have a notice stuck up at the end of the day – it’s ridiculous,” she says.
Another sickly beneficiary Jane Thobejane’s biggest challenge is the travelling costs of having to go back to the office a second time.
“My health does not allow me to stand in the sun for hours waiting for the doors to open, and where must I find the money for transport to return? I don’t work,” she says.
The NEWS later learned that the office was closed due to staff training.
