ATTACKED WHILE SEEKING HELP

The assaulted woman, her identity protected, shows extensive facial swelling and bruising sustained during the attack.

Woman assaulted outside SASSA offices – four days before 16 Days of Activism  

Platinum Weekly newspaper | Rustenburg – A woman was violently robbed and assaulted on the pavement directly in front of SASSA’s security booth at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices in Heystek Street, Rustenburg, just after 06:00 on Friday morning, 21 November 2025.

SASSA is the government agency responsible for providing social grants to the poor, elderly, and vulnerable — meaning people who go there often do so because they genuinely need financial support. Instead, this woman found herself preyed upon by criminals who targeted her at her most vulnerable.

An early start that turned into terror

The victim explained that she arrived early because queues at SASSA quickly become unmanageable later in the day. When she got there, she did not see any security personnel on site. She even called out to see if the security was in the booth, but there was no response. Feeling uneasy, she decided to check the time on her phone, thinking to rather book a Bolt ride back home and to return later, once the area was busier.

That moment of hesitation cost her dearly. Two men wearing balaclavas approached her. One grabbed her phone, while the other tried to snatch her bag. She refused to let go — her bag contained important personal documents.

What followed was a terrifying struggle. “One suspect hit me with his fists,” she said. “I bent down to protect myself but he struck me again on my forehead. My one eye swelled shut completely. I can’t open it at all.”

Her stolen device was a six-year-old Samsung Galaxy A72. She managed to keep her bag.

“They wouldn’t open a police case”

The woman says she tried to report the assault at SAPS, but instead of receiving help, she was met with indifference. The victim told Platinum Weekly that when she attempted to report the assault and the theft of her cellphone at the SAPS, she was met with indifference rather than assistance. In the statement she made at SAPS, she indicated that her phone had been stolen, but she was unsure whether it was insured. According to her, the officer insisted that she immediately phone to get the IMEI number of the stolen phone. When she explained that she could not call anyone because her phone had been taken, he allegedly questioned why she did not have a second phone. She responded that she only owned one. The officer then informed her that he could not open a case without the IMEI number and, when she asked what she was supposed to do, he simply stared at her without offering guidance.

Deeply shaken by the attack and discouraged by her experience at the police station, she left without pursuing the matter further. Platinum Weekly questions how incidents handled in this manner are reflected in crime statistics — and, had a case been opened, whether it would have been categorised as a cellphone theft or as an assault on a woman.

She has since borrowed a phone from a friend but says she will not return to the police station: “What will it help?”

This entire ordeal unfolded four days before the national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign — a devastating reminder of how critical safety and support truly are.

Where was security?

SASSA offices serve some of the country’s most financially vulnerable residents. Many arrive alone and very early in the morning to avoid the long queues. Without visible security on site, these already-struggling citizens are left wide open to criminals who know exactly how desperate and unprotected they are.

SASSA responds

Platinum Weekly contacted SASSA for comment regarding safety measures at the Rustenburg office and the concerns raised by the victim. Shortly before going to print, SASSA provided an official response. According to Nthabiseng Mosieleng, SASSA North West spokesperson: “SASSA refutes claims of an alleged assault reported to have taken place in a SASSA Rustenburg Local Office.”

She stated that the agency has a contracted security company on duty 24 hours during working hours, including weekends and public holidays.

Mosieleng emphasised that the safety of both clients and officials is of utmost importance, noting that:

• All clients queue inside the yard, even when arriving before opening hours.
• A dedicated official manages clients from the yard into the building once offices open.
• Security guards are positioned at the gate and inside the building to safeguard staff, clients, and SASSA assets.
• SASSA does not handle cash, as all grants are paid out through banking institutions.