The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced that its Bellville office in Cape Town will now remain open until 6 p.m. to cope with the high demand for social grants. The extended hours are intended to reduce the long queues and waiting times that pensioners and applicants have been experiencing.
The Bellville branch has seen a surge of clients, leading to prolonged waiting periods. Many pensioners and applicants report being sent back and forth to the office for months, often needing multiple trips to complete their Older Persons Grant applications. Berenice Paulsen, who has been assisting her sister Desiree Fredericks with the grant since June, expressed frustration: “They don’t tell you exactly what you need to bring the first or second time. Every time it’s a different story.”
To further alleviate pressure, SASSA officials will hold an outreach session at the Parow Community Centre on Friday, 14 November. This initiative aims to provide direct assistance to beneficiaries and ease the burden on busy branches. SASSA Western Cape spokesperson Shivani Wahab explained that ongoing social grant reviews have increased traffic to metro offices. An online application system is also available as an alternative platform for all social grant applications.
On Monday, 10 November, the Bellville office served 300 people despite operating with minimal staff, which has contributed to delays. Wahab emphasized that SASSA offers beneficiary education to each client upon arrival, covering detailed information on qualifying criteria and requirements for all social grants. Required documents for different grants are listed on SASSA’s website.
As the agency works to address the high demand, pensioners and applicants are encouraged to use the online application system and attend outreach sessions to minimize waiting times. With extended operating hours and outreach initiatives, SASSA aims to improve its services and provide timely assistance to those in need.
Comments are closed for this story.