The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called on acting Social Development Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga to urgently intervene in what it describes as a humanitarian crisis at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office in Bellville, where elderly and disabled grant applicants have reportedly been forced to sleep outside in freezing winter conditions to access services.
In a letter dated 5 June 2026, ATM Chief Whip Thandiswa Marawu said the situation represented a “profound failure of public administration” and an assault on the dignity of vulnerable South Africans.
The appeal comes amid reports that dozens of people seeking assistance with disability grants have been sleeping on pavements outside the Bellville office, wrapped in blankets and plastic sheets, in an effort to secure a place in the queue.
According to reports cited by the ATM, some applicants have spent multiple nights outside the office while trying to resolve issues relating to their grants. One beneficiary, Leon Faro, reportedly said he had been forced to sleep outside the office on four separate occasions while attempting to sort out problems with his disability grant.
The party said it was particularly concerned that people living with disabilities and elderly citizens were being subjected to harsh winter weather simply to access services they are entitled to receive from the state.
“Minister, no South African should be required to sleep on a pavement in the cold to access a social grant,” Marawu wrote. “No elderly person should be compelled to spend nights outside a government building because the state lacks the capacity or urgency to serve them.”
The ATM also expressed alarm over reports that the Bellville office is dealing with approximately 7,200 lapsed disability grant cases, a backlog it says reflects serious operational shortcomings.
The party’s letter was addressed to Chikunga, who is currently serving as acting minister after President Cyril Ramaphosa removed former Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe from Cabinet on 14 May 2026. Chikunga, who is also Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, was appointed to oversee the department pending the appointment of a permanent minister.
Tolashe’s dismissal followed months of controversy surrounding allegations of ethics breaches, undeclared vehicle donations, questionable appointments within her office and allegations involving the misuse of public resources. The Presidency did not provide detailed reasons for her dismissal, but opposition parties and civil society groups had repeatedly called for action over the allegations.
The ATM has proposed several urgent interventions to address the crisis in Bellville and improve service delivery nationally.
Among its recommendations are an immediate operational review of the Bellville office, the publication of a backlog reduction plan with measurable targets, and the deployment of additional personnel to assist with disability grant applications and renewals.
The party also wants SASSA to establish dedicated service channels and priority assistance mechanisms for elderly people and persons with disabilities to ensure that vulnerable applicants are not forced to queue overnight.
Other proposals include the introduction of a reliable appointment system and clear turnaround standards for disability grant assessments and renewals, coupled with regular public reporting on performance.
Marawu said the current situation undermines the constitutional promise of dignity and social protection for vulnerable citizens.
“We trust that this matter will receive your immediate attention and that decisive action will be taken to restore both efficiency and dignity to the administration of social assistance,” she said.
Neither SASSA nor the Department of Social Development had publicly responded to the ATM’s demands by Friday morning.
The incident has reignited concerns about service delivery challenges at SASSA offices across the country, with advocacy groups warning that lengthy delays and administrative backlogs continue to place unnecessary hardship on millions of South Africans who rely on social grants for survival.
