The Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed it has been inundated with calls from South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries anxious about receiving their grants.
Many fear being left stranded as SASSA Gold Cards are set to expire at the end of March — to make way for the way for the newly introduced Postbank Black Cards. To make matters worse, SASSA’s verification system for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant has been temporarily suspended, adding to the panic.
“The DA will write to Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe to request that no Gold Cards expire before all of them have been replaced, and that interim verification measures be introduced as a matter of urgency to ensure that no deserving recipients are left in the cold due to SASSA failures,” DA MP Bridget Masango said in a statement.
The transition to Black Cards has been marked by confusion and inefficiency, the party said, with beneficiaries reporting being sent from pillar to post only to return home empty-handed. This not only causes unnecessary emotional distress but also depletes beneficiaries’ limited financial resources.
Instead, the party advises SASSA Gold Card holders to opt for reliable and reputable banks to receive their grants. “The transition to Black Cards has been marked by confusion and inefficiency, with beneficiaries reporting being sent from pillar to post only to return home empty-handed.,” the party further said. “This not only causes unnecessary emotional distress but also depletes beneficiaries’ limited financial resources.”
They also demand that interim verification measures be introduced immediately to prevent deserving recipients from being denied their grants due to SASSA’s ongoing failures.
“Minister Tolashe must provide answers to Parliament on the number of SASSA beneficiaries still relying on Gold Cards, how many have transitioned to Black Cards, and what measures are being taken to address the SRD grant verification system’s suspension,” the statement further reads.
