Government Successfully Restores Sassa Grant Payment System.In September, numerous Sassa grant beneficiaries faced disappointment as they were unable to access their much-needed payments. The government has now taken steps to rectify the situation.
Joint Apology by Government
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, delivered a joint apology on behalf of various government departments regarding the non-payment of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants in September 2023.
Full Restoration of the System
Minister Gungubele assured grant recipients that the payment system is now fully restored and operational, putting an end to the system challenges experienced in September 2023.
Urgent Attention to Outstanding Funds
Efforts are underway to address outstanding funds in exceptional cases where beneficiaries have not yet received their money or the full amount due to them.
Acknowledging the Inconvenience
The government acknowledges the financial and logistical hardships caused by the system failure, especially to those who depend solely on social grants for their livelihood. They apologize profusely and emphasize their commitment to improving systems for reliable service.
Technical Issues and Backlogs
Technical issues on September 5th and 6th, 2023, affected Postbank and led to a backlog of funds yet to be credited to affected beneficiaries’ accounts.
Impact on Pensioners and Disabled Individuals
Pensioners and disabled individuals holding Postbank Gold Cards were particularly affected, as they visited grant payment points as per the Sassa grant payment schedule.
Manual Reversal of Grant Funds
Postbank initiated the manual reversal of grant funds to rectify the situation, affecting around 600,000 people. While the majority have received their grants, some are still awaiting payment.
Ongoing Reversal Process
The reversal process began recently and continues, with approximately 90% of affected individuals having been paid, according to the Postbank CEO.
Preventing Fraudulent Claims
Efforts are in place to prevent double payments of social grants, as some individuals attempted to defraud the Postbank by claiming non-payment.
Uninterrupted Children Grant Payments
Grant payments for children scheduled for September 7th, 2023 proceeded without any issues across all payment channels.
Validity of Sassa Gold Cards
Minister Gungubele assures grant beneficiaries that there is no need to apply for new Sassa cards, as the validity of all gold cards has been extended until December 31, 2023.
Reason for Card Extension
This extension was prompted by the expiration of thousands of beneficiary gold cards and the unavailability of resources to replace them.
Strategy for Replacing Expiring Sassa Gold Cards
The Department of Social Development (DSD) confirms that Postbank will continue issuing new Sassa Gold Cards to beneficiaries. Plans are also in place to utilize retail stores to assist in card issuance, with more details to be provided by the Postbank.
Alternative Payment Methods
Beneficiaries have the option to change their grant payment method and have their money paid directly into their bank accounts by visiting their nearest Sassa office.
