The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is facing backlash after a rude employee, Precious, at the Mogwase branch, sparked outrage for her poor customer service and lack of respect towards elderly citizens. Precious’s behaviour has been described as unacceptable and shameful, yet nothing seems to be done to address it.
On the 18th of April 2023, Precious was reported to have told a client that if the grants were hers, she wouldn’t give them to people. This incident, along with numerous other complaints of mistreatment towards clients, has led to calls for action against SASSA for their inability to deal with employees who have poor customer service skills.
Elderly citizens, in particular, have been affected by Precious’s rude behaviour. Many have reported being spoken down to and not being treated with the respect they deserve. This kind of abuse of power is unacceptable and needs to be addressed urgently.
The lack of action from SASSA is not only limited to their employees’ poor conduct. Some clients, like the sister of the individual who reported Precious’s behaviour, have not received foster care payments for over a year. SASSA claims that the money bounced back to them, and now the individual must wait until 2024 to apply again.
This incident highlights a bigger problem within the department, and the lack of urgency in addressing it. Clients are being failed by the system, and employees are not being held accountable for their actions. The people of Mogwase, and South Africa as a whole, deserve better.
It is time for SASSA to take responsibility for its employees’ conduct and to address the systemic issues within the department. The government must take steps to ensure that clients are treated with respect, and the employees who do not meet this standard are held accountable for their actions. It is high time for SASSA to improve their customer service and ensure that those who rely on them receive the support they need.
Mboma Mboma