SASSA’s Umlazi office declared unsafe, shuts down

South Africa's Social Relief of Drought and Hunger Agency (SASSA) announced the closure of its Umlazi office last week after a labor department inspection revealed the building to be unsafe. GroundUp had previously reported on the long queues and substandard conditions at the office. On October 21, SASSA stated that inspectors had found the office unsafe and ordered its immediate closure.

The agency claimed to be "in the advanced stage of securing alternative office accommodation". The closure followed complaints from various stakeholders about unsafe working conditions, including loose cables and potential structural roof collapse, according to Nhlanhla Khumalo, spokesperson for the provincial labor department.

The building, owned by the provincial public works department, was allocated to SASSA. Steve Bhengu, a spokesperson for public works, said the provincial body would conduct assessments and repairs. Umlazi SASSA employees will be transferred to other offices around Durban until a new office is found. Grant beneficiary Janette Mncadi, aged 83, expressed concern over the difficulty of traveling to other SASSA offices due to financial constraints.

She criticized SASSA for not finding alternative offices sooner, stating that it would be challenging for most beneficiaries who cannot afford to travel far.

When GroundUp visited Chatsworth and Lamontville offices on Wednesday, they were mostly empty, with some people waiting for over two hours. At the Durban Station branch, people had been waiting even longer. A mother holding her newborn reported waiting since 3 a.m. and still not receiving assistance by 1 p.m. When asked about the application process, she expressed frustration over being turned away multiple times due to system issues.

Sibongiseni Mkhize, applying for a disability grant, noted the increased difficulty of the process since the Umlazi branch closed. He spent R16 to reach the Umlazi office but now has to spend R28 for a taxi to the city center and walk another 30 minutes to the new location. Without a grant, this journey has become unaffordable, forcing him to return multiple times.

Thulisile Mngadi, an informal trader near the Umlazi office for over two decades, expressed shock at the rapid relocation of beneficiaries. She acknowledged previous complaints about deteriorating infrastructure and broken toilets but was unprepared for such a swift move.