The SASSA office in Glencoe has come under fire for tardy service in an unhealthy environment. The South African Social Security Agency, SASSA, which falls under the Social Development Department, is supposed to assist deserving beneficiaries with the issuing of cards to help them access State grants.
The SASSA website describes the agencies mission as: ‘To administer quality customer-centric social security services to eligible and potential beneficiaries and values that promote democracy and a culture of respect for human rights.’
Clearly, this is not happening in Glencoe.
This office, situated at the end of a rutted gravel road in a semi-industrial area, is surrounded by overgrown grass.
The Courier has received numerous complaints from those who started queuing up from 5.30am everyday last week in a desperate bid to get their applications processed. Some of the young mothers had with them their babies when the Courier visited the office on Wednesday.
“Since Monday, no one in the queue was seen to by staff who only opened the office well after 7.30am,” said one young mother, Lorraine. “When we ask they say they are waiting for the manager. We waited until around 11.30am but had to go home.”
Her sentiments were echoed by another young woman who said staff ‘were rude’ to them and some in the queue had left to try their luck at the Dundee SASSA office.

Corrie Simpson, a Glencoe resident who tried to assist some of those queuing, said the toilet was not accessible to the public.
“The small waiting area is sheltered but cluttered with broken office equipment like desks and cabinets. And the grass is long. It is not a good place for babies and mothers,” she told the Courier. The SASSA head office was contacted for comment but up until the time of going to press, none had been received.
Dr Sandy Bedassi, a Glencoe Councillor, who was tipped off about the growing anger of those queuing, also visited the office and was appalled by what he found.
“The queue was long and no one was being helped. A man did arrive from Dundee but there was no explanation as to why the office only opened after 8.30am and then did not tend to customers.”
However, Dr Bedassi did manage to get the local municipality to cut the grass and carry out some repairs to the road. He said he would be taking up ‘this grave matter to the highest authorities in the province’.