Tembisa to get new SASSA offices after complain to Parliament

Residents of Tembisa signed a petition in a complaint of their current South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) offices. But this petition was successful as Parliament has told SASSA’s CEO to find alternative proper offices.

TEMBISA RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH CONDITIONS OF SASSA OFFICES

2 000 signatories from Tembisa have signed a petition complaining about the condition of the SASSA building in Tembisa. The petition was to call for improvements to the building.

SASSA, through its CEO and the Gauteng Regional Executive manager, responded to the issues raised, said Chairperson of the Committee Nonkosi Mvana.

“The Portfolio Committee on Social Development invited a representative of the petition’s signatories to brief them during the week.”

Nonkosi Mvana

SASSA however told the committee about the difficulties of getting office space from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

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TEMBISA RESIDENTS TO GET A NEW OFFICE

To address the infrastructure issue, SASSA has embarked on a dual procurement process. This is together with the procurement process by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

“It has received permission from the Minister of Social Development to embark on its procurement process. However, importantly, the Gauteng Regional Manager reported that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has committed itself to procure alternative space for the Tembisa SASSA office,” said Mvana.

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COMMITTEE PRAISES RESIDENTS FOR STANDING UP FOR THEMSELVES

Mvana said they praise the people of Tembisa for standing up for their right to decent office accommodation for SASSA services. The complaint has highlighted the poor state of SASSA offices countrywide, the committee said.

“The committee called for the Minister of Social Development to urgently engage with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to intervene. The committee urged the SASSA CEO to find a temporary facility or a mobile truck in the interim,” Mvana said.

The portfolio committee has decided to conduct oversight visits to all provinces to assess the state of SASSA offices.