Elderly, disabled people camp outside SASSA offices in Khayelitsha

Lester Kiewit speaks with Sibongiseni Faku, an activist at Freedom to the Forgotten.

Listen below:

In Khayelitsha, long queues of disabled and elderly people gathered this week, waiting desperately for their grants.

Some even camped out on the steps outside the office, huddling together on cardboard during the night, running the risk of being robbed or attacked.

Monday was the first day of the year that disability grant applicants could make medical bookings.

RELATED: State of Collapse: Disabled woman collapses while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) in SASSA queue

Applicants need to provide medical proof of disability no older than three months, which is why so many applicants were outside the offices.

“These are people that are disabled and already have limitations. They have no chance whatsoever to get proper service delivery.” 

- Sibongiseni Faku, Activist - Freedom to the Forgotten

Freedom to the Forgotten is calling on SASSA to open another office in Khayelitsha.

Faku says there are not enough doctors in this area, making it challenging for the applicants to get medical certificates.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.