Huddled together trying to keep warm and out of the rain Cheryl Whitaker and her mom sits outside the Grassy Park Civic Centre waiting for their turn to be helped.
The duo made an early start to their day, waiting from 04:30 so that they hopefully could be first in line to renew a Sassa card.
It is 09:40 and the elderly, some in wheelchairs and others with walking canes are either sitting or standing in a queue while trying to keep dry as a sudden shower drenches everything in its path.
“My mom is 88 years old and we came from Heathfield. I am only assisting my mom but it is terrible, there were two people who fainted here this morning and the ambulance was here, so it is terrible to see what is happening.”
Jean Daniel (78) from Steenberg says she had been to two different post offices to renew her Sassa card that expired a month ago but the queues were too long. She then heard she may be assisted at the Grassy Park Civic Centre.
“I want my money in the bank so I opened a back account and then they said I must come to one of the post offices and to bring my Sassa card because my money will only be in the account in July or August.
“So, I went to the post office and when I arrived the queues were too long and then the next day a friend took me to Claremont and it was the same thing.
“We heard that we can come here today (Thursday 20 April) and we are waiting for a ticket to come back on Monday morning. We must have a ticket first so that they can help us. They only work on 150 people a day. All these people are only waiting for their ticket.”
Doris Patience from Retreat, who had been waiting in the queue since 04:30, questioned why they had to stand and wait so long to be assisted.
“We came in through the gate and have been standing all the time in this cold and they only started giving chairs to sit at 08:00. We have been here for more than five hours already and we have to come back again on Monday.”
Fazia Caasiem (62), a community worker from Overcome Heights, says she is sick and tired of long waits.
“I am sick and tired, since last month we have been walking after our renewal of cards and we were told that we are getting other cards but now we are getting tickets and Monday we must be back again. Monday it is the same story, it is not right.”
The elderly waiting in line hurriedly get up from their seats shuffling closer to the front of the line as a worker appears at the door.
“Nee, hou op soos diere aangaan,” the woman yells admonishing the elderly for moving closer and asking questions.
Caasiem continues: “Every time we come to a place then they want to be rude with big people, I mean it is not on.
“It is for the people’s own money they are coming but now she is treating people like children and I don’t think it is fair. It is not fair towards the community. Why must our people treat our people like that? it is not on.”
Meanwhile Ward 65 councillor Donovan Nelson says the Grassy Park Civic Centre was made available to assist with the renewal of Sassa cards after numerous complaints from residents.
“Many residents of Grassy Park and surrounding areas rely on Sassa grants to make ends meet, and the renewal of these cards is essential to ensure that these grants continue to be paid.
“However, the local post office has been struggling to cope with the demand, with complaints about insufficient seating and the lack of ablution facilities.”
After a site visit to the post office last week, Nelson says it was clear that assistance was needed to improve service delivery.
“It was clear to me that they needed assistance to cope with the situation. The City of Cape Town is a government that is committed to collaborative thinking and working relationships.
“This initiative is part of a wider effort to improve service delivery in the area and to make sure that residents receive the support they need.”
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to renew their Gold Sassa cards at the Grassy Park Civic Centre.
- For more information, kindly contact the Ward councillor’s office at 021 400 9151.
