SASSA cautions Grindrod over unscrupulous marketing tactics
The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) has noted with concern how Grindrod bank has used SASSA’s name to mislead beneficiaries by implicitly blurring the lines between their EasyPay Everywhere (green) card and the SASSA card. This emerged in a pamphlet that has been circulated at strategic places across the country.
The pamphlet is written “You have the right to continue to use your SASSA branded Grindrod card or your Easypay Everywhere (green) cardfor as long as you want to”. This misleading message, and its timing, is meant to create confusion among beneficiaries. Furthermore, the old SASSA card expires in December 2018 although this pamphlet claims it doesn’t expire then. The result of this confusion has the potential of enticing beneficiaries to opt into financial services carried by the green card.
Acting SASSA CEO cautioned Grindrod in a letter addressed to its CEO, David Polkinghorne, against the implications of the misleading pamphlet.
In the letter, Acting CEO outlined reasons why the pamphlet is misleading.
The pamphlet depicts the SASSA card and Easy Pay Everywhere (green) card as being the product of Grindrod and Net1. On the contrary, the SASSA card is the product of SASSA which is being managed by CPS/Grindrod.
Furthermore the pamphlet depicts the green card as one of SASSA’s banking accounts of choice, however that card has not been endorsed or backed by SASSA.
Grindrod has been given 5 days to provide SASSA with proof of retracting the false claims contained in its pamphlet.
SASSA wishes to inform beneficiaries that the new card has already been manufactured and it will be distributed accordingly from May 2018. The new card, which will be issued by the South African Post Office and SASSA, replaces the old card and will be used for payment and withdrawal of social grants as from May 2018.
Beneficiaries are urged to be vigilant at all times and to particularly take note of individuals who are marketing products under the guise of being SASSA officials. When in doubt they must contact their local offices or the customer care department on 0800601011.
