Elderly resident reveals woeful SASSA experience

On March 2, Charmaine Newman spent hours just to apply for an old age pension at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

At first, she had trouble with the service being offered at the SASSA office. After being directed by security personnel where to sit, she was told to first move her chair 90 degrees, then she had to move due to repairs being done on the ceiling. After noticing people that came in after her being helped before her, she asked one of the employees why this was the case, after which she was told she was sitting in the wrong place.

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Upon finally being called up to be assisted, she was informed it was too late in the day for her application, although it was only 13:30 and the SASSA offices only close at 16:00. She was told to return to the offices either the next Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, as these are the days’ old age pensioners are being assisted. The next week, on Tuesday, Newman returned, only to find the workers to be on strike.

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After mentioning her experience on social media, Newman received many responses, one of which informed her to try online applications. After a long struggle to gather other documentation she was not aware of needing and having them certified, Newman proceeded with the online application. Despite struggling to understand what the website required of her, she sent in her application and on March 16 she is still waiting for her application to be accepted.

Newman expressed her concerns for other residents who are not fortunate enough to have a computer or laptop to make use of the online application system, or transportation to continuously return to the SASSA offices. She further mentions she is struggling as she has no income.

Regarding her experience at the SASSA office Newman is most horrified at the lack of respect in the manner in which she was treated.

Nandi Mosia, senior manager of communications at SASSA informed the Record when asked about Newman’s experience, “Most of our offices in Gauteng including Roodepoort were disrupted by the NEHAWU strike where they were forced out of offices and services had to be stopped for both the safety of staff and officials. If the online process is not easy for the client, he or she is welcome to visit our offices again for an application as the strike has subsided. In the future, Roodepoort Local Office is one of our offices that is earmarked for an online kiosk facility and support to assist in this regard.”