Staff at the Athlone office of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have refuted claims that elderly and disabled mense are left to wait queueing outside in the cold, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.
On Monday, people queued in the freezing cold outside the Sassa office, situated in the Athlone Central Business District.
Most of the people were pensioners and told the Daily Voice they’d been queueing outside since 6am.
They said officials only allowed in four people at a time.
However, Sassa spokesperson, Shivani Wahab, says their official starting time is 7.30am.
“In respect of the Athlone Local Office and the alleged incident that took place on the 4 June 2018, records reflect that intake of clients started at 6.30am,” Wahab says.
“Clients were allowed inside the building to ensure that they were not left outside in the cold. Clients were officially assisted at 7.30am when the local office was officially open for business. Sassa can also confirm that there were a total of 66 clients registered by 7.20am.
“As part of Sassa’s value chain process, the office had a queue walker on duty in the waiting room and outside informing clients about the process. Most of the clients present on the day were there to complete their card swop.”
Wahab added: “All local offices have processes in place to first assist the elderly and people with disabilities.”
She said the image published in the Daily Voice was “misleading”.
“As per the Athlone Local Office management, they can confirm that the photograph that was published was taken three weeks ago by the media.”
However, pensioner Linda Davids, 78, from Bridgetown, who was at the office applying for her son’s disability grant, says she had taken the pictures on Monday herself and says Sassa officials are lying.
saafia.february@inl.co.za