A wheelchair-bound woman says she has not received her disability grant since July after being flagged as one of nearly 19,000 Eastern Cape beneficiaries whose financial status has been called into question.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) said those affected are required to undergo financial reviews after being identified as possibly receiving additional undisclosed income.
Among those cut off is 48-year-old Verene Weirs of Fynbos, who has been bedridden since losing both legs four years ago.
Despite Sassa saying funds to the affected beneficiaries had not been stopped, Weirs said she had not received her grant since July, after being flagged in June. Two other beneficiaries claimed their grants had also been suspended.
“I sent people there and they said they want to know about my financial situation and that I need to sign documents so I will receive my grant again,” she said.
“I told them I can’t move from my bed, so they said they would send someone to assist. I’ve been waiting for months without the person coming.”
Weirs said the suspension had left her unable to buy essentials, including the adult nappies she needed.
“I’ve not been able to buy food and things to assist me. My daughter has not been going to school since I haven’t been getting money because I paid for her school transport.”
Her neighbour, Glen Stoffels, said the community had been forced to step in.
“We assist her with food and anything that is needed for her to get help.
“People from Sassa have not been doing anything and we assist where we can. This is a sad state that should not be happening.”
Sassa says it issued the first notifications in June, advising beneficiaries to check their status at local offices and warning that failure to respond within two months would result in payments being suspended.
But many recipients insist they never received such messages, while others complain that even after complying with the review process, their payments remain delayed.
Human rights organisation Black Sash accused Sassa of poor communication and of unfairly shifting blame onto beneficiaries.
Another East London woman said her sister, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been denied access to her disability grant after 25 years.
“She hasn’t received a notification and hasn’t visited the branch yet. She can’t pay rent,” she said.
Mthatha-based apostle Kwanele Mpama, a disability grant recipient, said his payments had also been delayed despite undergoing a review.
“In July, they sent me a message that I should go for a review, which I did.
“The issue is my money was still being delayed even though I did the review. I was told I was put on the fourth-day payment,” he said.
Sassa regional manager Bandile Maqethuka insisted no-one had been unfairly deprived.
“Not even a single one of them has suffered in terms of us stopping their funds. We have not stopped any funds, but we have moved their payment dates,” he said.
He explained that 18,807 beneficiaries in the province had been flagged for financial reviews because their income circumstances appeared to have changed.
“When we were allocated for the current financial year, the National Treasury gave a condition that we should perform reviews continuously to ensure we only pay those who qualify,” he said.
“These people appeared to have an income of some kind. We want them to come forward so that we can collect the information we require about undisclosed financial income.
“These are public funds, we are expected to account on a yearly basis so we want to make sure we pay those who we must.”
Maqethuka said Sassa had created a fourth payment date to accommodate those under review and had mechanisms for assisting bedridden beneficiaries.
“We don’t want to cause any inconvenience, especially to the clients of Sassa, taking into consideration that they are vulnerable.
“We will ensure that we follow laws and will be initiating home visits for those who are bedridden. However, you must make an appointment or send your child to the Sassa offices,” he said.
He said biometric verification, including fingerprinting and facial photographs, was being used to eliminate fraud.
“When you come to review, we take your fingerprints and a picture of your face. Then we consult with home affairs so that we can eliminate all duplications in our system, and those who are using stolen identities.”
According to Maqethuka, of the 18,807 flagged beneficiaries, only 11,176 were issued with notifications because the agency lacked contact details for the remainder.
The highest number flagged was in the Amathole region, including BCM, Butterworth and Hogsback, with 5,696. OR Tambo followed with 3,322, Nelson Mandela Bay had 2,824 flagged, Alfred Nzo 2,011, Chris Hani 1,876, Sarah Baartman 1,625, and Joe Gqabi 1,033.
Black Sash has called for the review process to be paused until proper communication measures are in place.
“We reject the notion that SMS and bulk communication are sufficient or effective,” it said.
“Black Sash has consistently called Sassa out on its poor communication strategy, and bulk communication in a short time does not address the issue of beneficiaries not receiving their grants within a reasonable time in a way that Sassa can constitute adequate notice.”
Daily Dispatch
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