SASSA COMMENDED FOR LAUNCHING REGISTRATION SITES FOR CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF ONE IN THE EASTERN CAPE

By Sizo Gwarube

• The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has launched registration sites for child support grants in Eastern Cape hospitals, receiving widespread acclaim from beneficiaries and stakeholders for improving access to essential services for new parents.
• This initiative, a collaboration with SASSA, the Department of Health, and the Department of Home Affairs, facilitates the issuance of birth certificates and the application process for child support grants, significantly easing the burden on caregivers.
• Local leaders have praised the programme for its transformative potential, particularly in rural areas, where it reduces travel distances and logistical challenges, ensuring that critical support is readily available to those in need.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has been widely praised by child support grant beneficiaries and various stakeholders following the activation of registration sites in hospitals across the Eastern Cape, targeting new parents. To date, over 1,143 applications have been processed at the participating hospitals, reflecting the project’s success in meeting community needs. This groundbreaking initiative, which began in late July 2024 at St. Barnabas Hospital in the OR Tambo District, has since expanded across the province. The project, a collaboration with SASSA, the Department of Health, and the Department of Home Affairs, aims to simplify the process for caregivers and mothers of newborns to obtain birth certificates and apply for child support grants. To facilitate this, the Department of Health has made its health facilities available, providing office space for SASSA and Home Affairs to operate five days a week. This one-stop service model is accessible at seven sites across the province, catering to mothers receiving antenatal care at public facilities, new mothers, and caregivers of underage mothers.

The sites have been strategically launched to minimise travel and logistical challenges for community members, ensuring that necessary support is available close to home. The project has garnered strong support from local leadership, with mayors attending each launch to demonstrate their endorsement. Councillor Viwe Ndamase, Mayor of Nyandeni Local Municipality, lauded the programme as transformative, highlighting its potential to strengthen the bond between local leadership and the community. “This initiative allows us, as local leaders, to engage more effectively with our communities. We now have a platform to direct those in need to apply for the child support grant for their newborns without unnecessary delays. This is especially vital in rural areas where community members often have limited access to government services,” Ndamase stated. Councillor Danisile Mafumbatha, Mayor of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality in Bizana, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the collaborative effort of SASSA, the Department of Health, and the Department of Home Affairs as an ideal example of the District Development Model in action. “In many of our villages, new mothers have to travel long distances to access essential government services. With this initiative, SASSA has not only reduced these burdens but has also improved access to critical services for caregivers. This is a commendable achievement,” Mafumbatha noted.

Beneficiaries who have accessed the service since the project’s inception have expressed gratitude for the convenience it offers. Ziphindiwe Sogoni, a new mother who received support at the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital in the Alfred Nzo District, praised the efficiency of the process. “The whole process did not take long. It was straightforward, and I already have a confirmed date for my payment. This kind of support is invaluable to us,” said Sogoni. Similarly, Anelisa Mabaxa, a beneficiary at Maclear Hospital in Lundini Local Municipality, shared how the initiative helped her obtain birth certificates and child support grants for her children through Regulation 13.1. “This initiative has made a difference in my life, and I am thankful to SASSA for their assistance,” she said. Silvia Sidinana, who benefited at Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Metro, expressed relief and gratitude: “Now, I can focus on taking care of my child without worrying about long queues at Home Affairs or SASSA offices. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”

SASSA Eastern Cape spokesperson and Project Manager, Tabisa Nondwayi, expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress. “Our role as the Agency is to work with stakeholders and community radio stations to ensure that information about the child support grant for children below the age of one reaches all areas, especially remote communities. Current statistics show a significant improvement in grant applications for this demographic, which aligns with our objective to promote alternative access channels to SASSA services, enhance strategic partnerships, and alleviate poverty,” Nondwayi concluded. The project’s impact underscores SASSA’s commitment to improving service delivery and accessibility, ensuring that more children in vulnerable communities receive the support they need from the earliest stages of life.