KHAYELITSHA RESIDENTS ACCESS CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES THROUGH SASSA-LED OUTREACH

By Precious Mupenzi

Today, hundreds of Khayelitsha residents, including older persons and schoolchildren, braved the bitter winter cold to access government services at the OR Tambo Community Hall. The visit forms part of a Ministerial Outreach Programme led by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, ahead of the tabling of Budget Vote 19 in Parliament on 10 July 2025.

At the centre of the outreach is the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP), spearheaded by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). The ICROP model is designed to take services directly to the people, especially in under-resourced communities where access remains a challenge. In Khayelitsha, where over 134,000 social grants are in payment and nearly 200,000 individuals rely on social assistance, this intervention was both timely and necessary.

Khayelitsha is one of the fastest-growing areas in Cape Town and is currently served by only one SASSA local office based at the Kuyasa Public Library. To improve service reach, SASSA collaborates with key partners during these outreach efforts. These include the Department of Home Affairs, SAPS, financial institutions, and the Department of Social Development, providing a one-stop service hub where community members can apply for grants, IDs, and banking services in one location.

The grant numbers paint a clear picture of the scale of need in the area. As of May 2025, the Khayelitsha Local Office processed over 41,600 Child Support Grants, more than 27,500 Older Persons Grants, and over 7,200 Disability Grants. These, along with grants for care dependency, war veterans, and foster care, bring the total number of grants in payment to over 134,000, benefiting nearly 200,000 individuals. This accounts for a significant portion of the community’s financial lifeline, with the majority of grant recipients depending on monthly payouts for basic survival.

For many residents, the outreach brought immense relief. Ntombizodwa Vovela (43), a resident of Khayelitsha, arrived at the venue as early as 5am after hearing the news at the Kuyasa Library, where SASSA offices are currently based while the main building is under renovations.

“I had to pay R17 for taxi fare to get to Kuyasa Library, but I was happy to know I wouldn’t have to pay anything today for the service. I’ve been longing to renew my disability grant application because I have a chronic disease that makes it hard for me to work,” she said. While the long queue initially caused concern, she was impressed with how quickly it moved, noting the efficiency brought by the deployment of nearly 60 SASSA officials to assist the community.
This outreach not only provided immediate services but also allowed government to hear directly from the community, helping to shape future interventions aimed at building a more inclusive and responsive social protection system.