1. Establishment of an Independent Social Assistance Appeals Tribunal
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE (PROGRESS REPORT)
25 June 2008

2. Presentation Overview
Background
Progress at National: PTA
Progress on the pilot in KZN
4. Progress on the Appeals business process
5. Communication strategy
6. Conclusion

3. 1. Background

4. 1. Regulatory framework Social Assistance Act, 2004
Social Assistance Regulations, 2005
Current mandate derived from reg 18 of 2005;
Appointment of the tribunal members to consider appeals;
Process of developing transitional conditions that will be gazetted as required by Act initiated and due consultation to follow

5. 2.Recap Previous presentations at PC: a) Collaboration with SASSA;
b) Pilot office in KZN;
c) Centralised office at Pretoria
d) Decentralised model: 2009/10
e) Business system to interface with SASSA

6. A: Proposed workflow processes
SASSA/DSD COLLABORATION
(15/02/08 – 31/03/09)
A PROCESS
DSD NATIONAL
APPEALS TRIBUNAL
SASSA HQ
(QA)
REGIONAL
Receive pre-adjudication
info & forward
ACCESS TO APPELANTS
ACCESS TO APPELANTS
Case Management
and analysis
B PROCESS
ADJUDICATION
Panels
Secretariat
DISTRICT
Receive pre-adjudication
info & escalate
C PROCESS
LOCAL
Help Desk
Distribute appeal forms
Guidelines & escalate
Develop
Supply forms,
guidelines
ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE
ADJUDICATION ROLE

7. B. Management of the Independent Tribunal Adjudication Function
TRANSITION
(DSD/SASSA COLLABORATION)
1/04/ /03/09
POST TRANSITION
1/04/09 -
SASSA ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE
DSD ADJUDICATION ROLE
Established Appeals Tribunal
Organizational Component (DPSA)
Funds Flow (NT)
Ministerial Determination (s13(1)(a)(b)
SASSA to provide administrative role, provide access to appellants:
Regional Office
District Offices
Local Offices
Adjudication function
Pre-adjudication assessment
Adjudication by appointed tribunal members
Document and oral hearing
CHALLENGES
Financial constraints to decentralize in 2008/9
Infrastructural and structural outlay
SAA, 2004
as amended
SAA, 2004
Legislative Mandate

8. 2. Functioning of the IT: National

9. National progress Minister has appointed tribunal members Composition:
Civil society members
Medical practitioners
Legal practitioners
Terms and conditions of appointment including remuneration based on DPSA/NT guidelines;
Centralised/outreach to local or district offices

10. Progress in KZN (PILOT)

11. PRE- ADJUDICATION ACTIVITIES CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICE
PILOT IN KZN
4 000
Reception
3 250
PRE- ADJUDICATION ACTIVITIES
DATA/INFO UNIT
Registry
Call Centre
CASE MANAGEMENT OFFICE
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Referral back for info
ADJUDICATION OFFICE
3 250
LEGAL
ASSESSMENT
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
3 250
SASSA
Regional
District
Local
Adjudication Decision
DOCUMENTARY
REVIEW
Confirm,
Vary,
Set aside,
Any just decision
APPELLANT
REPRESENTATIVE or
Post Adjudication Office
ORAL HEARING
PAJA s7(2)
JUDICIAL REVIEW

12. 4. Appeals Business Process and Systems

13. Appeals System Intervention
21,032 appeals processed as at 20th June
Quality Control
3,522 (30%) of appeals quality assured as at 20th June
2% error rate
8,232 (67%) cellphone numbers supplied
Identification of priority KZN files from file of 1,500 provided
Region and district displayed on barcode to assist with Pre-adjudication process
Incomplete files – critical doc missing indicated on barcode to assist SASSA and improve turnaround time

14. Activities 10,848 1,412 12,260 8,772 21,032 REGION APPEALS WITH DATE
WITHOUT
DATE
TOTAL
COMPLETE
FILES
EXCEPTION
IDENTIFIED
PROCESSED
KZN
PRIORITIES
CAPTURED
FILED
EASTERN CAPE 11
111
122
905
1,027 -
FREESTATE 2 1 3
178
181
GAUTENG
233
411
891
1,302
10,648
1,049
11,697
5,922
17,619 67
860
LIMPOPO 23
MPUMALANGA 6 12
130
142
NO REGION
315
NORTHERN CAPE 36
NORTH WEST 72
WESTERN CAPE 15
300
10,848
1,412
12,260
8,772
21,032
TOTAL READY FOR ADJUDICATION

15. 5. Proposed Communication strategy

16. A: Communication strategy
Draft standard operation procedures
Communication material to be prepared incl:
The right to appeal, How to appeal
The appeal process;
Unsuccessful appeal;
Forms, e.g. application, outcome, referral
Community outreach at SASSA local and district offices
Local radio stations

17. 6. Conclusion
6.1. Progressive enhancement through the business system;
6.2. Schedules are under control despite challenges with attendance;
6.3. Mechanisms to use cell-phones to contact and invite appellants
6.4.Lessons to upscale with more panel;
6.5. Ongoing monitoring and review of processes