Sassa pensioners march to Parliament demanding fairness and dignity

A group of pensioners and supporters marched to Parliament on Tuesday, demanding a full review of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), citing discrimination, poor treatment, and a system they say is failing the elderly.

Organiser Pat Lee said the protest was about more than individual cases.

“This is not for just a specific group of people, but for everybody who is a Sassa pensioner from all walks of life, colours, and creed, and we know that our voices will be heard. This is the time now to show up and to come together in unity,” Lee said.

She added that the agency needed fundamental reform.

“I think Sassa must be reviewed itself, because every person working for Sassa must reapply for their positions, and they must also have diverse cultures in these common places that serve the public because of communication problems that we have. Once we have the diverse cultural workforce that will eliminate the misunderstandings and the frustrations so that people with different languages can be understood. This is reverse apartheid,” she said.

The march began on the Grand Parade at the corner of Lower Buitenkant and Darling streets, before proceeding up Buitenkant Street and turning into Roeland Street, where participants gathered outside Parliament to hand over a memorandum.

They later returned via the same route to disperse.

Among the marchers was 68-year-old pensioner Joy Pinn, who recounted a case that left her shaken.

"I took a 92-year-old man there, a Jewish old man, and they refused to give him the grant because he’s white and they think he’s rich. They didn’t even look at his stuff. I took him three, four times, and they refused to give it. They were so rude. Unfortunately, he died, so he couldn’t tell his story," Pinn said.

She said this happened at the Sassa office in Wynberg.

"The issue people are complaining about is the money that gets deducted without consent. The reviews are illegal. They are not asked to give affidavits because children help parents, so they put money in the account so it reflects differently, and they think you’re over the threshold. That’s a problem, and they are teaching people to lie," she added.

Pinn said she was speaking out for others worse off than herself.

"These people are worse off than me. They take a taxi to the place, they stand in queues from four, five o’clock in the morning in the rain, sunshine, whatever. They get treated badly. The security is absolutely rude. There are no ablution facilities for the old people, for anyone really. And the officials must actually wear a uniform. You don’t know who you’re speaking to there. They are absolutely disrespectful."

Marcher Winston Fortuin said the protest was meant to send a strong message.

"We are representing the Sassa beneficiaries. That’s basically the primary objective here. Even the president of our country must know that we’ve had enough of our old people, our seniors, who have laboured so long and so much. In respect of that and in honour of our old people, we feel that by coming here today we are saying, listen, we’ve had enough of the unfair treatment," he said.

Fortuin emphasised that the issue went beyond race.

"Remember, this is beyond colour. No colour, no race, no creed. We are speaking to humanity today. We are addressing the needs of our Sassa community. And we are saying, if we can get help from our local government, we would highly appreciate it. Our prayers are basically to say, listen, we need your support."

He also highlighted the sacrifices made by pensioners just to attend the march. "Many of the old people here today took public transport to get here. They literally fight through that little pension that they get in the month, trying by all means to ensure we can have a better tomorrow," Fortuin said.

The group said they expect Parliament to respond to their memorandum and that they will continue organising if their concerns are not addressed.

DA MP for the Social Development Portfolio, Alexandra Abrahams, collected the memorandum.

"The Democratic Alliance received a memorandum of grievances from a group of approximately 150 senior citizens who marched to the gates of Parliament in Cape Town.

"Their list of grievances raises serious concerns affecting many seniors across the country. Issues include access to social grants, inhumane long queues, system breakdowns, unpaid grants, lack of communication, and the old age grant being inadequate to meet basic needs amid the rising cost of living.

"These grievances relate to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), an entity under the National Department of Social Development. The memorandum further outlines concerns involving the departments of Health, Police, and Transport.

"It also calls for the dignity, protection, and welfare of all seniors, regardless of race or creed, to be upheld in accordance with the Older Persons Act, 2006."

Abrahams said they will ensure this memorandum is handed over to the chairperson of the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Bridget Masango, the Minister of Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, and the CEO of SASSA, Themba Matlou, during a scheduled in-person committee meeting on Wednesday, which will address the termination of the contract between Sassa and Postbank.

"How much longer must the poor and vulnerable tolerate the indignity of Sassa, which is meant to provide social protection? We call on Minister Tolashe to urgently address the 62% staff vacancy rate and lack of resources at Sassa offices, roll out the self-help kiosks and other online appointment booking systems to improve queue management, and vastly improve their communication with beneficiaries."

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za