AN EFF councillor in Cape Town forced his way into the Sassa offices after security guards tried to block him.
Councillor Banzi Dambuza was supposed to have a meeting with the Sassa management on Thursday afternoon, 14 January.
But he arrived at the same time Minister Lindiwe Zulu was expected to visit the same office.
The security guards at the entrance blocked Dambuza but he pushed his way in.
“I was being ill-treated here based on the fact that there was a higher expectation of a minister that was coming. “This minister is coming here just now after we have already made enough noise that this problem must be fixed,” said Dambuza.
Sassa grant beneficiaries who were sitting in and outside the office cheered Dambuza on.
He said he refuses to be bullied and that people should be treated the same regardless of their social status.
“It is a bad and pathetic service offered here at these Sassa offices. For you to be given proper service, people want to understand your title. They must stop helping people based on their titles but because they are human beings,” he said.
When the minister finally arrived, Dambuza was in the boardroom with some Sassa management. Zulu had a meeting with stakeholders that included ANC Councillor Sharon Manata.
Dambuza said he felt sidelined because he didn’t get the chance to be part of that meeting.
“When the minister finally arrived, as leaders in this community, we were given a backseat. This happens whenever we want to be involved in things. We came here because we have been called by the management of Sassa and now when we come here we get a backseat treatment from the security because we are not ministers,” he said.
Dambuza said he will not be intimidated by anyone and will keep pressing.
“We are going to enter these offices up until our people get proper services and we are also going to enter the offices of the City of Cape Town up until our people get proper services,” he said.
