Almost all South African citizens are well familiar with the South African Social Security Agency’s contributions. SASSA is the body that provides funds to people who are unable to make both ends meet. The funds are released to unemployed people, orphans, older people and disabled. There are various categories of benefices in which war veterans, retired and others fall.
On the other hand, Black Sash is an organization that is rising in favor of South Africans who face difficulties. Black Sash has released a report in which it claims that SASSA grant receivers face various challenges. They interviewed several SASSA grant receivers and quoted them in the report. Let’s understand what challenges the SASSA grant receivers face and review the Black Sash report.
Basics of Black Sash Review
Before we jump to discuss complex issues we need to understand the background of Black Sash. majorty of people accuse Black Sash that it is an anti government organization that critises government policies. Basically, it is a nonprofit organization that has been working in the country since 1955. It has played a great role in the days of apartheid and later it emerged as an advocate of poor people.
Recently, it has released a report in which Black Sash has discussed the issued of SASSA grant recipients. The report argues that a high number of the recipients are facing extremely challenging barriers when it comes to the SASSA grant. For example, delayed grants, communication issues and limited accessibility for rural.
Challenges Faced by SASSA Recipents According to Black Sash Review
Delayed Payments
One of the top concern that recipients frequently show is the delayed payment majority of the people argue that they are unable to cover the expenses due to the SASSA’s delayed payments some argue that SASSA should pay on a fixed date while others claim SASSA should pay before a month begins. You can check your SASSA payments dates at https://srd-sassa-gov.co.za/.
Complex Application Method
Another concern expressed by the SASSA recipients is that they are unable to apply. Basically, a vast number of SASSA applicants do not possess advanced technology devices such as smartphones or personal computers. Furthermore, they are unable to use such devices even if they have due to their complex use.
People complain that the application method is highly complex as they are unable to use the devices so they cannot lodge applications. Some claim that they cannot lodge application therefore, they seek assistance to the people who can apply on their behalf and sometimes applicants pay fees to those people.
Documentation Requirments
Dueto to prevent scams and false documentations, SASSA asks applicants to provide certfied documents. Applicants complain that SASSA asks for a bunblde of documents which must be certfied. They added, if applciants provide uncertified documents their applciants are not approved. Documentation requiremnts is a big issue for those who have lost thor essential documents plus those who are unable to certify their doucments.
Closure of Cash Pay Points
In the beginning, recipients were required to visit the the post office to collect the money. Later SASSA authorities introduced the banking payment method and then it allowed recipients to get payments on the cash points. But due to security concerns, the cash pay points have been decommissioned.
Recieonts argue that they need to visit the post office or the ATM in order to get cash. The problem occurs for the people living in rural areas who need to pay high fair for traveling to the ATM or post office. The decommissioning has not only affected the the unemployed and the war veteran grant recipts but also to the older people and the disabled recipents.
Financial Burden from Service Fees
A major issue that is affecting all the recipients of SDASSA is the fee they pay while collecting the payment. According to the rules, a person must pay R30 if he makes a transcetion specially withdraws an amount. Let’s say there is an SRD recipient who receives R350 grant every month. If he pays R30 while withdorwing, he will left with only R320. As a result, a recipient pays major portion of his grant to the pay points.
Withdrawal Limits
The mobile ATM dispense limited amounts. Simply put, an applicant has to make multiple withdrawals to access the full amount. According to the rules, the limit of withdrawals is R750. If an applicant is withdrawing R2500 grant, he has to withdraw 4 times. In this way, the recipient has to pay R30 multiple times which reduce the grant amount.
Communication Challenges
There are several other challenges faced by the SASSA recipients in the Blash Sash report this is the last one discussed here. Communication challenges are often reported as vast number of the recipients have argued that they are unable to communicate or lack of communication leads to problems.
FAQs
Is Sassa problem solved?
There are several problems faced by the the SASSA recipients, some are addressed on the Blask Sash review. SASSA is willing to eliminate the weakness of its system and resolve recipient issues. However, it will take time to resolve all issues.
Why did SASSA fail?
If an applicant enters incorrect ID document, banking details or other personal details, your applicant will be rejected.
Final Words
South African Social Security Agency has helped millions of people on the country. It began in 2019 to help the disabled, older, war veterans and the unemployed people and later it started helping others including orphans and the low income people. SASSA policies change over time, which strengthen the system of security and prevent SASSA from scams.
However, these change of policies and expended network has become a problem as recipients are reporting several barriers they face from lodging application to withdrawing their grants. Black Sash has conduced a thorough research on the SASSA recipients. You can see the details of review as I have discussed above.
