SASSA concerned by beneficiaries still using old cards
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is pleased to announce significant progress in migrating beneficiaries of social grants from the old SASSA card to the new gold SASSA card. The old white SASSA card has reached expiry date and it however deeply concerns SASSA that some beneficiaries are still holding on to the old card and not swapping it for the new gold SASSA card. The danger of holding on to the old card is that affected beneficiaries risk losing their benefits.
Just over half a million out of a total of about 10.9 million beneficiaries are still in possession of the old SASSA cards. SASSA and SAPO are working tirelessly to migrate these remaining beneficiaries to the new gold SASSA card. This is done through the nationwide government communication strategy which uses a variety of communication platforms in order to reach all social grant beneficiaries. SASSA remains concerned , despite the fact that it has fully complied with the Constitutional Court order.
Commenting on this latest milestone, the Acting CEO of SASSA, Abraham Mahlangu pointed out that “ We are pleased to have complied with the instructions of the Concourt, particularly in ensuring that SASSA gets rid of any contractual ties with CPS”. He added that “ We urge all remaining beneficiaries of social grants who are still in possession of the old SASSA card to urgently swap them for the new gold SASSA card. We also wish to warn beneficiaries that soon we will no longer make any social grant payments into these old cards. For this reason, affected beneficiaries have to visit the nearest SASSA or post office to do a card swap. They simply have to bring along their ID documents and the old card so that they can be issued with the new one. The process takes less than five minutes".
It cannot be over-emphasised that beneficiaries who haven't swapped their old cards for the new gold SASSA card risk denying themselves a constitutional right to social assistance. Anyone who doesn't swap their old cards for the new ones wont be able to get their January 2019 Grants. Individual letters have also been sent to beneficiaries as part of government's mass communication campaign. November is the deadline for obtaining the new SASSA cars and unfortunately there will be no extension.
Beneficiaries are also requested to ignore tempting SMS and WhattsApp messages claiming that SASSA and some retailers are offering vouchers for unemployed people. This is fake news generated by criminals who want to defraud unsuspecting beneficiaries this festive season. Social grants for December will be made available from as early as 28 November 2018 at post offices, stores and ATM's to avoid the December rush. Cash paypoints will however start paying from 03 December.
Beneficiaries seeking more clarity should call SASSA toll free on 0800 60 10 11 or visit SASSA News on Facebook.
Media enquiries:
Paseka Letsatsi
Cell: 082 883 9969
Omphemetse Molopyane
Tel: 012 400 2647
E-mail: OmphemetseM@sassa.gov.za
