Clients lose out as security guard strike hits Western Cape SA Social Security Agency offices

Several South African Social Security Agency offices in the Western Cape were closed on Tuesday as a result of a strike by security guards.

The agency promised to put a contingency plan in place, and when GroundUp checked on Wednesday, the Cape Town and Athlone offices were open again. Calls to other offices in the city to find out if they were open went unanswered.

Annelize Bester, the acting regional executive manager for the South African Social Security Agency in the Western Cape, said it had closed some offices on Tuesday “as we do not have enough security officials on duty to cover all the service points”.

She said their offices in Athlone, Vredenburg, Khayelitsha, Eerste River, Mitchells Plain, Robertson, and Beaufort West were unable to service clients. Offices in Gugulethu, Oudtshoorn, George, Worcester, Witzenberg, Vredendal, Wynberg, Paarl, Bellville, and Grabouw continued to provide either full or reduced services.

For clients affected by the closures, alternative appointment dates were being arranged where possible, said Bester. She said people wanting to apply for grants could also use the agency’s website online platform.

Bester said the strike was the result of a dispute between the security company appointed by the agency and employees. The agency had been notified about the strike late on Monday. She said it was in discussions with the security company.

“We profusely apologise to clients for the inconvenience caused today and assure them that we will try our utmost to ensure that services are rendered in a safe and secure environment.”

On Wednesday the South African Social Security Agency told GroundUp that the security service provider had implemented a contingency plan and all agency offices should be operational on Thursday. DM

First published by GroundUp.