MEC Londt meets with SASSA Western Cape

We are continuing to foster a positive working relationship with the provincial management of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in the interests of our residents in the Western Cape.

Last month Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, made a commitment to have regular meetings with SASSA to find ways for the agency and the provincial Department of Social Development to work better together.

“As the Western Cape Government (WCG) we play an important oversight role over agencies like SASSA. This is particularly important for me because SASSA serves some of our most vulnerable residents. It is important that we make sure that the issues that they have and raise are responded to promptly,” said Minister Londt.

SASSA is a national function and does not fall under the WCG’s mandate, but it is important for the department to collaborate with the agency to ensure grant beneficiaries receive the best service possible. These beneficiaries are the same residents who depend on DSD for its services.

“In my second meeting with SASSA’s provincial management on 10 September, we discussed various issues including those stemming from recent oversight visits I conducted at the Gugulethu and Athlone SASSA offices. I’m pleased with the way we were able to navigate some of the challenges, and that there were already immediate solutions being implemented by SASSA,” said Provincial Minister Londt.

Other issues that were discussed include:

• Responding to the needs of our vulnerable residents in disasters
• Queue management challenges
• SASSA’s accommodation challenges in certain areas and how DSD can assist
• DSD’s communication on SASSA-related issues and how we can support SASSA with communicating to their beneficiaries

“We have also committed to including SASSA in future community outreaches – where possible – so they may be able to assist residents who have SASSA queries. In this way, we will bring services to the people. One platform where this will be beneficial for both the WCG and SASSA is at our monthly ‘First Thursday’ initiatives where the WCG invites residents to meet with WCG officials to discuss their concerns, ideas, or challenges. We get many SASSA beneficiaries who come to DSD at these events seeking answers to questions we cannot always answer, so it will be fantastic to have SASSA staff joining us to assist more residents,” said Provincial Minister Londt.

Another meeting is scheduled for next month.