Dear Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour,

I have been in search for efficient and adequate assistance with regards to my Unemployment benefits application, however, I have been continuously met with lack of informative guidance.

I applied online at first, did everything I was suppose to and waited. With no phone calls returned or emails sent for the next steps, as there is nowhere indicated that essential documents are to be uploaded, I decided to call. Phone call after phone call, I was faced with more than 20 agents/consultants informing me of 100 different reasons why no progress has been made on my application. Agents/consultants promising to get back to me, telling me they gathering feedback from their supervisors yet dropping the call on me.

I then decided to research a office or even satellite office close by and opted to go the route instead. Mind you, this back and forth has been ongoing since January 2021. At office in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, I was told that all my necessary documents for the application was already uploaded, all I needed to hand in was 1/2 outstanding documents from a previous company. Why this could not have been told to me telephonically, I have absolutely no idea. I set out to do as I was requested, ensuring the documentation requested was on par. Doing my bit, making sure that on my return, I would have done my job correctly. Upon my return, all my necessary documents checked by the agent/consultant was in order as requested. I was then advised that I should apply for maternity benefits, as I qualify for such. Again, I was asked to complete forms and documentation. I was back at that office within the hour to hand back what was requested of me, forms and documentation filled out to the T. Ensuring yet again, I do my part properly and thoroughly! All my documentation and forms were collected and I was handed a slip and told to wait for 6-8 weeks. With no communication inbetween, I waited patiently for 8 weeks to pass by. Within the 8th week, I received an email, with no email signature or contact details, stating my termination date was incorrect. I wdnt ahead, before visiting the Humansdorp office again, to correct the termination date, which was now correct.

At the Humansdorp office this time around, being assisted by a different agent/consultant, I was told the precious agwnt/consultant had not even applied for my maternity benefits nor was ordinary unemployment benefits applied for. Patient yet again, trying to work with these agents/consultants, I was told, I will call you the next day. It's been one week that has passed already and still absolutely no communication.

I made sure I take down the names of the agents/consultants helping out at the Humansdorp office, who took any documents from me... Jermaine and Mandla.

I would like to know what the next steps would be here. How many more visits before my application is actually processed, how many more back and forth. I, as part of the public, have been doing exactly as told with every visit, why is it that absolutely nothing right has come from it? It's been said that, us as the public, are not patient, we don't understand, we not working with the agents/consultants...its beyond me how you do your part to the best of your ability and still you faced with such treatment and lack of urgency.

From January till now, August 2021!!!!!Ridiculous...mind you, I was asked by the agent Mandla, "do you think we want to be here?" My question then is, as someone who searched for employment and got the job, you surely knew exactly what you were signing up for. And second to that, because you really don't want to be there, us who are trying to do right by you, we now need to suffer??????

There's no other options or concrete solutions being proposed and leaves the situation with none other than, moving in the direction of further legal steps being taken. If no one can efficiently and effectively assist me, then that's the next chosen route.
I have been patient, I have been abiding, I have been participating, I have been understanding, I have been cooperating and most importantly, I have been trying to work as a team, trying to take a different approach to how individuals are seeing and experiencing officials of the state, but yet again, I have proved my approach wrong.

It would be appreciated if anyone could get back to me on this, in the meantime, I will be proceeding with appropriate legal action.

Many thanks.
Lauren