The ongoing issues at social-grant agency Sassa’s Vredenburg offices are a headache for many local residents and beneficiaries.
Last week, Weslander reported on the vulnerable and elderly standing outside in all manner of weather, cold or hot (“Waiting for Sassa in rain, cold wrong”, 10 July 2025) and did not get a response at the time of print from Sassa’s head office.
According to Shivani Wahab, spokesperson for Sassa Western Cape, the agency’s Vredenburg office is in the process of renewing its lease and will recommend special provision for outside cover. They want to ensure clients are provided with basic comforts while awaiting assistance.
“The Vredenburg Sassa office management is working with local law enforcement to manage crowd control,” Wahab said. “The site is in a busy business area, and office management cannot request special parking provisions for clients. Management remains committed to providing accessible and professional services to the community of the Saldanha Bay Municipality.”
She confirmed Sassa Vredenburg had an intake of 122 clients on Monday 7 July, 74 of whom were registered as clients who enquired about delayed payments and reviews.
“The office begins operations just after the security-shift change, at 06:30, daily. The waiting area can accommodate 48 people at any given time. However, additional seating arrangements are made, and the space in front of the office accommodates 30 to 40 chairs for clients.
“Sassa prioritises the frail and elderly clients, and we ensure no client is turned away without being duly assisted. Clients are also provided with appointments in their respective areas to avoid travel costs.
“The Sassa Vredenburg office has a capacity challenge, with a staff of 27, spread over four municipalities, servicing two fixed offices daily, which includes Vredenburg and Atlantis as well as 17 service and access points.”
Sammy Springleer, a Vredenburg resident, disputes Sassa’s feedback about the number of people present at the Vredenburg office on the morning in question. He observed significantly more people than Sassa officially acknowledges.
“While the available seating may accommodate approximately 48 people inside and another 30-40 outside, this does not reflect the full reality. A substantial number of clients were queuing outside the premises, aroun the corner in the street.
“Many of them, including elderly and vulnerable individuals, waited for hours in the cold, and several were eventually forced to leave without assistance.”
He noted that only four staff members were on duty that day because others were on leave.
“Despite these difficult circumstances, the staff on site showed an admirable level of patience and professionalism. They remained courteous and calm, even when faced with frustration and verbal abuse from clients.
“It is unfortunate that these frontline workers have to operate under such strain. The responsibility lies with their superiors and management structures to ensure better staffing levels, improved systems, and more appropriate infrastructure to handle public demand, particularly during times of high volumes.”
Springleer said it was important that the situation received urgent attention to uphold the dignity of clients and employees.
