SASSA Umlazi office, USA News: Some social grant beneficiaries in Umlazi now have to spend extra time and money to travel to offices like the Durban Station branch in the city centre after their local branch was shut down last week. The South African Social Security Agency office in Umlazi was forced to close its doors after a labour department inspection found the building to be unsafe.
Last month, media reports highlighted the long queues and deteriorating conditions at the office. On October 21, SASSA announced that inspectors had found the office unsafe and ordered its immediate closure. In a statement, SASSA reported that it was at an advanced stage in securing alternative office accommodation.
The closure follows findings from an inspection conducted earlier in October after the department received complaints from various stakeholders regarding unsafe working conditions, according to provincial labour department spokesperson Nhlanhla Khumalo. Concerns identified during the inspection included loose cables coming into contact with water and structural roof collapse, Khumalo stated.
The building belongs to the provincial public works department and was allocated to SASSA. Public works spokesperson Steve Bhengu noted that assessments and repairs would be conducted by SASSA. Umlazi staff will be absorbed by other SASSA offices around Durban until a new office is found.
Impact on Grant Beneficiaries
Janette Mncadi, an 83-year-old grant beneficiary, said she is too old to travel to an office further away and believes SASSA should have found alternative offices sooner. It is going to be difficult for most residents who lack money to travel to other branches, she added.
Following the closure, Umlazi beneficiaries received a list of the nearest alternative branches, including Chatsworth, Lamontville, and Durban Station. Visits to these alternative locations showed long wait times, with some people waiting for over two hours, while others arriving early in the morning experienced significant delays. Sibongiseni Mkhize, applying for a disability grant, explained that the process became harder and more expensive due to increased taxi fares and walking distances.
Local Reactions
Thulisile Mngadi, an informal trader outside the Umlazi office for more than 20 years, said traders were shocked when beneficiaries reported the sudden closure. Although workers and beneficiaries had complained about deteriorating infrastructure and broken toilets, the swift relocation caught local traders by surprise.
