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 • [email protected] • Freddy Sebothoma: Local Office Manager: Gugulethu • 021 684 4777 • 082 806 3470 • [email protected] • Mpendulo Siyo: Assistant Manager Operations: Gugulethu • 021 684 4700 • [email protected].