PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01 August 2025
Al Jama-ah Welcomes Decisive Intervention by Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks to Improve SASSA Services in the Western Cape and Across the Country
Al Jama-ah warmly welcomes and fully supports the decisive leadership shown by our party leader and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hon. Ganief Hendricks, in securing immediate relief and long-term improvements for pensioners and vulnerable social grant recipients in the Western Cape and throughout South Africa.
Following urgent engagements with the Acting Regional Executive Manager of SASSA in the Western Cape, Deputy Minister Hendricks has successfully negotiated a set of critical measures, in the form of an improvement plan, to protect the dignity and income security of pensioners, especially those undergoing grant reviews.
Key outcomes of this intervention include:
– Uninterrupted Grant Payments:
Pensioners who were called for a grant review and have not yet complied will continue receiving their grants in August and September, giving them more time to visit SASSA offices without fear of financial disruption.
– Priority Queues for Elderly and Frail:
SASSA offices will introduce express queues for elderly and frail beneficiaries. If a beneficiary is unable to be assisted on the first visit, a firm follow-up appointment will be given to avoid repeated inconvenience.
– High-Level Oversight and Emergency Readiness:
Deputy Minister Hendricks will meet bi-monthly with senior SASSA management in the Western Cape to review progress, while also securing a commitment that national and provincial SASSA leadership will meet with him within four hours in the event of an emergency.
– Dedicated Cape Town Service Improvement Plan:
A focused improvement plan for the City of Cape Town Metro has been finalised. This includes regular performance reviews every two months to ensure accountability in how services are delivered to the public
– National Monitoring During Payment Days:
Deputy Minister Hendricks has deployed senior officials from the SASSA national office in Pretoria to monitor payment operations across key sites during the upcoming payment cycle, starting Monday, 4 August 2025, from 6:00 AM. This approach will serve as a model for similar interventions across other provinces.
This intervention highlights Al Jama-ah’s deep commitment to social justice and service delivery. The party will continue to support bold actions that place the needs of the people first, particularly our elderly and most vulnerable.
We thank Deputy Minister Hendricks for his swift, compassionate, and strategic response to the concerns raised by communities in the Western Cape and beyond.
Issued by Asghar Khan on behalf of Al Jama-ah
For media enquiries, contact: Nisa Hendricks
National Communications Officer (Marketing and Media)
082 613 1917