AF Wood Centre, where SASSA grant recipients are made to switch off their cellphones after corruption was reported. Photo: Ntombi Mbomvu
14 July 2016
In January, GroundUp reported on allegations that security guards were taking bribes to move people forward in the queue at AF Wood Centre, South African Security Agency (Sassa) pay point, in Pietermaritzburg.
Despite the promises made by Sassa and the Fidelity Security Group to investigate the matter, pensioners are still paying bribes of R20 to the guards to get near the front of the queue.
“We would wake up in the early hours of the morning, but without the R20 bribe fee, we would be [left] at the back of the queue … It doesn’t matter how early one is; without the bribe fee, you remain at the back. That has become normal and people are aware of it. We know that it is illegal, but they continue doing it,” says Bazamile Mpungose, 64, who goes to AF Wood Centre on Boom Street for her monthly R1,500 pension.
Since the GroundUp article was published in January, pensioners are being forced by the guards to switch off their cell phones once they enter the pay point. This is to prevent photos being taken and recordings made of the guards asking for bribes, according to Mpungose.
Velile Ngcobo, 63, confirmed that this happened at the beginning of the year.
“We did not understand until one of them [security guard] accused us of recording them and taking pictures. They are aware that the story was told to the media … A lot happens inside the centre. Sometimes people attack each other while they fight for the closer spot in the queue. Those who have bribed, demand a closer spot in the queue. That angers those who have no money to bribe and that is how people end up fighting.”
“Some people use their cell phones to capture those moments. That is the reason they have now told us to switch off our phones,” says Ngcobo.
“We feel neglected; the authorities have to attend the matter now before people die … We can’t be forced to switch off our cellphones – that is abuse. We wish that the relevant department intervene on the matter. We are now a business to these people. They budget by counting how many R20 they will get through bribing,” says Ngcobo.
KZN spokesperson from Sassa Vusi Mahaye says there is always a problem with the matter of bribery because no one comes forward to say they have paid the bribery fee. He was not aware that beneficiaries are now being ordered to switch off their phones.
“We will go to the pay point on next payday to check if that is happening in the centre,” he said.
GroundUp received reports that similar bribes are being paid at other pay points. In Imbali Unit 1 community hall, pensioners pay a “fee” of R10 or R20 to get closer to the front of the queue.
Group Marketing and Communications Manager for Fidelity Security Group Daniel Moxham, said they had investigated the matter. “An investigation was done by our Durban team and the officer that was taking bribes was dismissed with the matter being closed. With new allegations surfacing, the Durban team will now conduct a new investigation.”