Gugulethu Paralegal Advice Office

Key Challenges Identified

1. First time applicants need education & information on what documents are needed for different grants
2. Staff attitudes must change – need to be more respectful
3. Grant deductions- beneficiaries to be informed of SASSA’s duties to help stop or verify unlawful deductions
4. Closing of the EPE account – grant beneficiaries need education / information / assistance

Key Challenges Identified

1. Grant deductions
2. Offer services of Commissioner of Oaths based at the SASSA Office
3. Staff uniforms
4. First Aid or paramedic services at the Pay Points, in particular for the elderly.
5. Separate queue for the elderly at the Pay Point.

Key Challenges Identified

1. Waiting periods for grant applications often exceed 3 month period.
2. SASSA staff need to wear uniforms and name tags
3. Better understanding by communities on Regulation 11.

Follow Up on 17 September 2015

The first committee struggled to follow through on their Improvement Plan. It was difficult to get everyone who agreed to be part of the committee to a meeting to plan the activities. Two of the committee members found permanent employment. The chairperson of Gugulethu Advice Office, another committee member, took ill and spent the latter half of the year recuperating at home in the Eastern Cape. The coordinator struggled to hold the office together.

A new JMC was elected at the Cycle 2 Dialogue and monitoring work has started.