The union’s provincial Secretary in the province, Desmond Mogotsi, told OFM News that the strike is meant to benefit the social grant beneficiaries.

The members of the union, in their red and black regalia, were outside SASSA’s offices in Aliwal Street in Bloemfontein and they expect the number of members present to increase during the course of the day.

Earlier (Tuesday) OFM News reported that the strike action comes after failed deliberations by the union and the social grants agency over the new biometric system.

Mogotsi alleges that grant recipients do not receive the full grant whilst others are not receiving the grant.

“Once all these things we are fighting against are resolved, we believe that our members will be able to service the grant recipients and provide them with quality services. Our members in this institution remains dissatisfied with a low morale,” says Mogotsi.

Earlier Tuesday the union complained that the fingerprint system allows for fraudulent activities and is not user-friendly for the illiterate and disabled.

However, the agency hit back at the union saying the system is as fail proof.

OFM News also reported that Nehawu in the North West expressed support for the national shutdown strike action and the union in the Northern Cape said it was expecting scores of around 2000 people to participate in the Sassa strike.

OFM News