PRESENTATION ON THE GUGULETHU LO STATUS - Presentation to Sub-Council 14 30/10/2020 - City of Cape Town

PRESENTATION ON THE
GUGULETHU LO STATUS
Presentation to Sub-Council 14
          30/10/2020

Presentation Outline/Overview
 Gugulethu Local Office
 Areas Serviced at Service-Points
 Nyanga Service-Point
 Phillipi Service-Point
 Beautiful Gate Service-Point
 Type of Service Rendered
 Current Status
 Office Operations
 Desired State
 Contacts

Gugulethu Local Office
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Services in the Western Cape
are rendered from 16 Local Offices divided into 5 Districts, namely:
•   Metro 1:                 Bellville, Khayelitsha, Wynberg and Athlone
•   Metro 2:                 Gugulethu, Cape Town, Mitchells Plain and Eersteriver
•   Boland/Overberg:         Paarl, Worcester and Caledon
•   Eden/Karoo:              Beaufort West, Oudtshoorn and George
•   West Coast:              Vredendal and Vredenburg
The Gugulethu Local Office operates under Metro 2 District within City of Cape Town
Municipality serving the population at the following areas
 Gugulethu: Through the Local Office located at Ward 41 within the Greater
  Gugulethu
 Phillipi Service-Point: Operating at Browns Farm
 Nyanga/Zolani Centre: Located at Terminius Road alongsite of the Community Hall
 Beautiful Gate: Service Point at The Beautiful Gate next to Phillipi East Police Station

Areas Serviced at Service-Points
The Local Office footprint is stretched to provide access to SASSA services at
three (3) service-points namely
•   Beautiful Gate: In Phillipi East covering Phillipi East, Old and Lower Crossroad
    including Marikana Informal Settlements
•   Browns Farm: At situated at Phillipi Library covering entire Phillipi and informal
    settlements around Phillipi West, Sweet Homes and part of Samora Machel’s
    informal settlement.
•   Zolani Centre at Nyanga Thusong Centre covering entire Nyanga area,
    Lusaka, KTC, White City and Endlovini

Nyanga: Zolani Centre
Structure and Challenges
•   The facility belongs to PDSD and is shared on an equal basis
•   PDSD is the main custodian of the facility
•   Maintenance tasks on SASSA site are delayed
•   Floor layout not favorable for SASSA business process
•   Poor infrastructure to support office settings
•   Poor ablution system needing a total revamping
Operations
•   Facility was used by 10 Officials from Monday to Thursday prior Covid-19
•   Facility has been Closed by Unions and Dept of Labour in April 2019 as the
    structure was found to be Non-Compliant to OHS.

Phillipi/Browns Farm Service-Point
Structure and Challenges
•   The facility belongs City of Cape Town
•   Infrastructure lay-out not favourable to support office settings and SASSA
    business process
•   Area cannot accommodate a minimum of 5 staff members
•   Concern over Safety of Officials and Assets
Operations
•   Facility was used by 5 Officials from Monday to Thursday prior covid-19
•   Facility has been Closed by City of Cape Town
•   Officials reluctant to return fearing for their safety

Beautiful Gate Service-Point
Structure and Challenges
•   The facility belongs to NGO
•   Infrastructure lay-out not favourable to support office settings for SASSA
    business process
•   Two cottage used as office
•   Area cannot accommodate more than 5 clients at a time in a cottage
•   Concern to queuing clients during unfavourable weather condition
Operations
•   Facility was used by 7 Officials from Monday to Thursday prior Covid 19
•   Facility is closed for client-service but is used for back-office activities
    including an the management of upcoming on-line application process

Type of Service Rendered

Grant Type              Monthly Amount Payable
Child Support grant                    R440
                                      R1860

Older Person's grant      R1880 ( from 75 years and above)

War Veteran's grant                   R1880

Grant in Aid                           R420

Disability grant                      R1860

Foster Care Grant                     R1040

Care-Dependency Grant                 R1860

Current Status
General Challenges
•   Local Office structure belongs to PDSD
•   Closure of the three (3) Service-points
•   Office operate with 50% of staff due to covid-19 regulations ( office
    accommodate max of 20 without adhering to social distancing)
•   Sleep-overs and payment for queue- standers creating confusions and
    commotion
•   Criminality around the Office/robberies
•   Intimidations, harassment and terrorizing of officials by other organizations
    within the community
Operations
•   Office is fully operational from Monday to Friday

Office Operations
            Prior Lockdown                         During Covid-19

Mondays:                                      Mondays and Tuesdays:
 Old age, Foster Care Grants and SRD          Old age and FCGs

Tuesdays:                                     Wednesday and Thursday:
 Child Grants and Foster Care                 CSG and Foster Care

Wednesdays and Thursdays:                     Fridays: Disability,
 Disability, Care Dependency, Grant in Aid    Care Dependency, Grant in Aid

Friday:
 SRD applications and Office special
   projects

Desired State

•   Opening new offices solely for SASSA business
•   Activation of On-Line Grant application
•   Assurance of safety and security to staff
•   Visible policing at all Service Office
•   No interruption, destruction of service at the office
•   No pressure from community structures
Operations
•   Office is fully operational from Monday to Friday

Contacts
•   Ms Z0liswa Lonja: District Senior Manager: Metro 2
•   021 377 200
•   072 174 9716
•   ZoliswaL@sassa.gov.za

•   Freddy Sebothoma: Local Office Manager: Gugulethu
•   021 684 4777
•   082 806 3470
•   freddys@sassa.gov.za

•   Mpendulo Siyo: Assistant Manager Operations: Gugulethu
•   021 684 4700
•   MpendoloS@sassa.gov.za