Sassa paints a picture of a modern government agency promising to assist beneficiaries with no tools and trade with their biometric identity verification.

In sharp contrast, the same agency shut the door on people standing in queues for hours on the sidewalk in eMalahleni because the clock is ticking and the window of hope slams shut.

While the acting regional executive manager, Xolela Mpambani, encouraged citizens to visit local offices for biometric verification, she neglects to mention that in eMalahleni, ‘visiting’ must happen before the mid-morning sun is even high, because here the office closes at 09:50.

This was not disputed by Sassa’s communication manager, Senzeni Ngubeni who said the main office closes at 10:00 because the building was deemed unfit to work in.

WITBANK NEWS was at the Sassa office earlier this week and desperate people tried to access forms to fill in and bring back the next day.

They were met by ignorance from the personnel.

Ngubeni said there were about 40 people inside the office and they were assisted.

“Clients who were outside were addressed by Sassa officials, and issued with necessary application forms. Then advised to submit their applications online, as it is one of the alternative methods Sassa is utilising to curb the long queues in service offices,” he added.

The journalist at the office did however not see any Sassa official addressing people or handing out forms.

The people outside was left in limbo.

What can be more frustrating than spending the last of your R370 grant on taxi fees, just to return home empty-handed.

Sassa has created an alternative office at Hlalanikahle extension, Lovelife which operates three days a week Monday to Wednesday.

Ngubeni added this arrangement will be extended soon to be operational for five days to assist.

The cost of this dysfunctional service is having a lasting impact on the community.

The full story is in this week’s edition of Witbank News.

Email us if you were turned away at the Sassa office: info@witbanknews.co.za

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