The Department of Social Development, will on Friday 09 December 2016; host dialogues with social grant beneficiaries in Mangaung, Free State Province and Madibogo village, North West Province. These dialogues will be led by both Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, as part of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) 10 Year Anniversary celebrations which are being held across all provinces.
SASSA is a Social Development entity established in terms of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 to relieve poor South Africans from Poverty, Unemployment and Inequality as directed by the National Development Plan (NDP). The NDP requires Government and its social partners to lead the creation of an inclusive social protection system that addresses all areas of vulnerability and is responsive to the needs, realities and conditions of those who are most at risk. To date, SASSA pays social grants to more than Seventeen Million South Africans and more than Nine Hundred Thousand of these beneficiaries are living in Free State Province. In North West, SASSA pays social grants to One Million Two Hundred Thousand beneficiaries.
Both the Minister and Deputy Minister will utilise this opportunity to interact directly with social grant beneficiaries and caution them to be more careful when using their social grant income. They will also be educated about some of the social grant related issues as the festive season begins. Citizens will be urged to spend wisely during the festive season and plan for the new-year.
The department recently interacted with communities of Mangaung and Thaba Nchu who raised their concerns about illegal deductions of airtime, insurance, loan sharks and long queues at SASSA pay points.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the events planned as follows:
Minister’s programme
Date: Friday, 09 December 2016
Time: 12h00
Venue: Rocklands Indoor Sports Centre in Mangaung Township – Free State Province
Deputy Minister’s Programme
Date: Friday, 9 December 2016
Time: 10h30
Venue: Madibogo village, Ratlou Local Municipality – North West Province
Media can RSVP by contacting Mr Justice Ditshego – 079 4977 426 / justiced@dsd.gov.za
Media inquiries may be forwarded to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
