Social grant beneficiaries who are living in fear of not receiving their grants when their cards reach its expiry dates, have been assured by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) that this will not happen.
Sassa said the matter has been resolved by all parties concerned, namely Cash Paymaster Services (CPS ), Payments Association of South Africa (Pasa) and MasterCard.
Following an agreement with all these parties, Sassa said it can confirm that the official Sassa card issued to social grant beneficiaries will operate without any problem beyond the expiry date of December 31 2017 printed on it.
This therefore means that the card will be accepted at all retailers irrespective of the expiry date printed on it.
Sassa also reiterated that the Sassa card bearing the colours of the South African flag remains the only official card and cannot be changed for any other card.
Pearl Bengu, the chief operating officer of Sassa, said it has been agreed in their negotiations that Pasa will issue a notice to all retailers informing them that the Sassa card will still function properly irrespective of the expiry date printed on it.
Ms Bengu also assured beneficiaries that payment of their social grants will go ahead as usual. Beneficiaries are also warned to be careful of any individuals posing as Sassa employees offering to exchange their Sassa cards for any other card because of the expiry date.
Sassa said it will never communicate with its beneficiaries through SMS and beneficiaries are warned not to respond to any SMS sent to them.
The agency also said the only valid Sassa card has the colours of the South African flag and it will never be replaced by a card that is green in colour.
Sassa also said it conducts its business from its own offices and beneficiaries should not accept invitations to any other office.
The agency warned that the danger of responding to these scams is that beneficiaries could be stripped of their cash or unusual deductions which they never authorised could come off their grants.
Beneficiaries should make sure that they do not give their personal details or card details to strangers because it can also lead to identity theft.
Once a criminal syndicate
has your personal details, they
can commit fraud using your
name.
Beneficiaries can call Sassa on 0800 60 10 11 for enquiries.
