TODAY, mums across the country will be collecting child grants, but they have been warned not to take minors with them.
If yesterday and Monday were anything to go by, Sassa workers and beneficiaries will continue facing challenges today.
- In Limpopo, young and old people queued outside the Seshego Circle Centre near Polokwane.
Jan Molopa (48) from Seshego zone 2 said they had no choice but to stand in the hot sun so they could get money for groceries.
“It’s painful that we are locked outside but we understand the mall is full. Our plea to the security officers is to at least let us queue under the shelter of the closed shops,” he said.
Thomas Mongalo (56), a beneficiary from Luthuli Park, said he was worried because he didn’t have a mask or gloves to protect himself.
“I have to queue here because I went to Madiba Park filling station to withdraw money, but my card was swallowed by the ATM. It’s dangerous to queue like this, but we have no choice,” he said.
- In Mahikeng, North West, Kelebogile Seane (67) said she was in her second long queue for the day. She had queued for her pension money before waiting to buy groceries at a local Spar.
She was complaining to Police Minister Bheki Cele, who visited the town to check that lockdown regulations were being followed.
While talking to the gogo, Cele found out the shop was full with 70 staff members and 100 customers inside.
Owner Jaco Joubert said he was following guidelines from the supermarket’s head office.
The minister said during his visit he realised people were not social distancing, and needed to be educated more.
“We must keep pushing in terms of education. We must keep pushing in terms of telling people about the seriousness of doing things correctly,” he said.
- In Tweelagte Village, outside Rustenburg, villagers said nothing had changed. People were still walking around and shops were operating as usual.
The SunTeam even found a shop selling building materials in nearby Matooster, despite not being listed as an essential service. The only precaution the shop was taking was limiting numbers inside and providing hand sanitiser.