The South African Social Security Agency pays social grants every month during the first week of the month. Nonetheless, the Post Bank has recently encountered challenges that threaten to disrupt its normal disbursement process.
Sassa Grant Payment Method Raises Concerns
Sassa recently introduced a cardless withdrawal method for beneficiaries with Sassa gold cards. The reason for this was that some beneficiaries’ gold cards expired on 31 March and throughout April.Post Bank’s renewal arrangements for gold cards were further challenged by last week’s announcement of the liquidation of the South African Post Office, which led to the closure of post office branches nationwide.
The Western Cape Social Development Department is concerned about Sassa’s temporary cardless grant collection method.Several affected beneficiaries faced various challenges when trying to collect their grants, according to the provincial department’s spokesperson, Monique Mortlock-Malgas.
- We have visited various service points in Sassa offices across the province over the last couple of months, just to document all of the complaints from beneficiaries on the ground. We’ve spoken to beneficiaries on the ground MEC Fernandez has on numerous occasions even have to step in when she saw inefficient services, Where there were no proper queue Management Systems in place
In response to engagements between them and Sassa’s provincial and national management regarding a more viable solution, Sassa decided to extend the gold card expiration date. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) welcomes the decision by the Payment Association of South Africa (PASA) to extend the validity of expired SASSA/Postbank gold cards until 31 December 2023.”
Consequently, recipients of social grants can still use their expired cards at participating stores such as Checkers, Shoprite, USave, OK, Pick n Pay, Boxer, and others as well as ATMs.
Yet Mortlock-Malgas maintains that Sassa has not communicated effectively regarding these changes. In addition, most beneficiaries do not have access to social media platforms.
