South Africa: Sassa Opens Temporary Office Following Closure in Umlazi

What the report says

South Africa’s SASSA has moved services in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, to a temporary site after the former office in Durban was closed by the Department of Labour on 21 October because it was considered unsafe. According to GroundUp, the agency began operating from a community hall in Umlazi’s D Section on 2 November, about 3 km from the old office, while it looks for a longer-term arrangement.

The change has affected beneficiaries who now have to travel further and, in some cases, spend more on transport to reach services. During a visit on Thursday, the hall was crowded with applicants, while others were sent to nearby offices. Some people said they faced long delays, and one beneficiary described waiting for hours for help with a child support grant application.

GroundUp reported that the temporary venue has also raised practical concerns, especially around sanitation and waiting conditions. Portable toilets were placed outside the hall because the building’s own toilets were locked, and SASSA said this was due to their poor condition. The agency’s KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson said the office is relying on temporary internet access and can assist about 60 people when systems are working well.

SANCO said it understood the need to move the office for staff safety but was concerned about the burden on beneficiaries, including older, sick and disabled people. The community hall is expected to be used as the temporary venue until 31 January 2027.