Koketso Mphaphathe, a man from Gauteng, has a blunt message for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). He wants the agency to step up for young people who, he says, are running out of options.
Mphaphathe holds a matric certificate and has experience in admin and office work. Yet he remains unemployed and is actively looking for work. He shared his story through The South African’s SASSA grant survey.
Declined application leaves job seeker struggling
Mphaphathe told The South African that he has had a declined or lapsed SASSA application. His biggest financial concern, he said, is unemployment.
Mphaphathe rated SASSA’s communication with recipients as very poor. When asked what one thing he would change about the agency, he pointed straight at its app and website, saying both need fixing.
He also said he has never applied for additional government support because he did not know what else was available to him.
Young job seeker willing to go wherever the work is
His frustration comes through clearly in his message to SASSA. He urged the agency to “do its work in office and help South African youth as we are suffering”.
“Truly speaking I’m not proud to be living in South Africa at this moment,” he added.
His story mirrors that of many young South Africans who hold qualifications but cannot find work, leaving families to stretch limited household income as far as it will go.
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