Appaling conditions at SASSA Sempupuru office

SEMPUPURU – Conditions that elderly people are subjected to at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office at Sempupuru in Moutse outside Groblersdal within the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality are a serious cause for concern.

Residents complained that the elderly receiving services at the office have been subjected to poor conditions for years now without any form of intervention to help them despite several complaints lodged with the authorities.

They worry that the elderly seeking services, including the sick and frail, are forced to stand on their feet for long hours snaking in queues as they are not provided chairs and there are not ablution facilities were they can relieve themselves.

The situation forces the elderly to opt for nearest bushes to answer the call of nature and that threatened their safety and health.

According to the concerned residents some of the elderly are forced to return home without have accessed service at the office as they allege the officials there drag feet in assisting them.

The residents further complain that Sempupuru is a remote area and accessing it requires more than one trip for people residing in Moutse.

They claim a call for a SASSA office in Moutse was made years ago but authorities were dragging feet in addressing the matter.

“Yesterday I experienced first-hand the appalling conditions at SASSA offices in Sempupuru. Pensioners were on long queues without chairs. When I asked if there were toilets I was told that there weren’t any and the poor pensioners have to go to the nearby bushes when nature calls,” said Seun Mogotji, a community leader.

Norman Kutama, SASSA Limpopo Spokesperson, said he had elevated the matter to the director of grants for a report on the situation in Sempupuru.