SASSA admits guilt on disability grants

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO, Ms Totsie Mamela, admits in writing that the agency conducted zero disability grant applications under lockdown levels 4 and 5. This is in response to a letter from the Chairperson of the Western Cape Social Development Committee.

MPP Gillion Bosman comments: “I’ve been made aware by SASSA’s CEO that only now, under lockdown alert level 3, are disability grant applicants being assessed. Priority is given to those who had applied before 27th of March this year, pre-lockdown. SASSA offers no indication of the backlog, however.

Through a myriad of excuses, SASSA further advises that its offices were not open under levels 4 and 5 due to pressure from organised labour. This effectively means that the whims of labour unions prevented the declaration of SASSA as an essential service during the pandemic, thus begging the question of how an entire national minister can compromise the upliftment of our most vulnerable residents at the most desperate of times.”

This follows the DA in the Western Cape previously revealing that SASSA had been turning away disability grant applicants and referring them to the emergency Covid-19 grant instead. The Covid-19 grant is R1,500 less than the disability grant.

MPP Bosman adds: “Ms Mamela admits that the only ‘major’ effort of the agency to compensate for this is to possibly – no guarantees – extend existing disability grant pay-outs from October to December. This does not take into consideration the unprocessed applications during and prior to lockdown.

To add insult to injury, the payment of temporary disability grants which lapsed in July, and others due to lapse in August and September, have not been granted extension by directive of Minister Lindiwe Zulu to SASSA. This is a directive she may issue during lockdown, but has failed to do so – despite the fact that her department is a frontline entity, she sits on the National Coronavirus Command Council and therefore is amongst the first to know of lockdown dates.”

We are further deeply concerned that SASSA claims to have been denied access to facilities requested from the City of Cape Town. This is blatantly untrue, as the City has offered over 20 such halls for the agency’s use, going above-and-beyond its role in local government. If more facilities are needed, then SASSA and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu ought to be in talks with her cabinet colleague, Minister De Lille of national Public Works, which previously offered sites for social development purposes.

MPP Bosman says: “I have previously invited SASSA and national DSD to account to the provincial committee on its over R1-billion in irregular expenditure. After failing to arrive previously and making no commitment as yet to attend on a future date, I will engage the committee members on obtaining legal opinion. We do not rule out the possibility of summonsing the agency to account to the provincial parliament in terms of section 115 of the Constitution.”

The DA in the Western Cape will continue its fight for improving conditions for all vulnerable communities, during the current pandemic and beyond.