19 April 2007
South Africans in remote rural areas, in need of social assistance can now
apply and be informed of the outcome of their application on the same day �
thanks to modern technology.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is now able to process
applications for Social Assistance on-line through using a combination of the
Offices with Network Cabling, 3-G wireless connectivity, and Mobile Service
Trucks with Satellite connectivity.
The Agency processed applications at sites in Dangwana in Mount Frere and Mt
Ayliff in the Eastern Cape on 17 April 2007, without direct cabling
connectivity, during a visit to the Alfred Nzo Municipality by the Minister of
Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya. The Minister is keen to take services to
remote areas, and to improve the turnaround time for social grant
applications.
"In order to utilise the Enhanced MIS IGAP Process in a site without cabling
connectivity to both MIS and SocPen, Laptop PCs are set up with MTN 3-G cards
that allow a data transfer to be conducted between the users and the
applications that are housed on the SITA GovNet. For the purposes of the
Eastern Cape exercise, 5 Laptop PCs, with hand-held barcode scanners, as well
as 2 Bar-Code Printers, 1 Desktop Scanner, and 1 Desktop Printer were utilised
by staff from the Mount Ayliff and Mount Frere Local Area Offices. Despite a
poor cellular network signal, the teams were capable of connecting to both the
SocPen and MIS applications, ensuring that Service Delivery could occur on the
same principle as with a permanent office," explained SASSA CEO Mr Fezile
Makiwane.
The table that follows details the performance of the Alfred Nzo District
Municipality on Wednesday, 17 April, including two teams operating at the
remote sites in Alfred Nzo Municipality.
Locality: Alfred Nzo
Old Age: 65
Disability: 43
Foster Care: 121
Care Dependent: 20
Child Support: 404
Grant in Aid: 5
Social Relief of Distress: 296
Total: 954
In addition to the number of applications listed above, the Team from
Dangwana also ensured that a doctor from the Clinic in Mount Frere was
available at the remote site.
The doctor assessed 20 disability grants applicants in a mobile clinic at
the Dangwana site on the same day. Furthermore, Mobile Units in the form of
Service trucks were available at the sites, and for the period reported on, a
total of 709 Enquiries against the MIS, SocPen, and Benen systems were
successfully completed.
Dr Skweyiya pointed out: "The Agency in the Eastern Cape has proven that we
can speed up service delivery in remote rural areas. With our mobile trucks, we
can be able to assist hundreds of citizens who would otherwise have been unable
to travel to urban centres to apply for social grants. It also means we can
eventually totally eliminate the long waiting periods. Basically there is no
reason why people cannot hear the outcome of their applications on the same
day."
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
19 April 2007
