GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Hundreds of qualifying social grant recipients will miss out on the government’s R50-billion social grant boost, because there are still only four Sassa contracted doctors serving the areas of George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Riversdale, and Plettenberg Bay.

This has resulted in a three- to four-month waiting period for grant recipients to consult a SASSA contracted doctor. The fact that Sassa offices remain closed during the lockdown, makes this already dire situation even more disastrous.

The DA’s constituency head for George, member of parliament Dr Mimmy Gondwe, says it has been almost a month since the DA in the Western Cape called on the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to remedy the shortage of contracted assessment doctors in George and its surrounds.

“It is Sassa’s responsibility to ensure that hundreds of qualifying and eligible people can access social grants and services amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. However, the DA’s call in this regard has been ignored as Sassa offices in George and across the country remain closed.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500-billion socio-economic relief package on Tuesday that included R50-billion for socio-economic relief to social grant recipients.

Gondwe says it is imperative for Sassa offices across the country to re-open so that they can urgently assist the hundreds of people who currently find themselves unable to access social services.

“The DA in the Western Cape again calls on Sassa to revisit this ill-considered and imprudent decision, as it is depriving hundreds of qualifying and eligible people in George and other areas, from accessing social grants – especially in this critical and pressing time,” Gondwe said.

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