Missing Sassa grant shock for KwaZulu-Natal domestic worker

DAYS after receiving her new SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) card, Moreen Gumede went to her local post office to withdraw her monthly child support grant.

She was shocked to learn that there was no money in the account.

The 50-year-old domestic worker from Assagay supports her brother’s two children and collects the grant for them.

Gumede said she went to the Clermont Sassa branch to query the empty account.

“They told me to make a new card but there was still no money. There was only R3 left in the account,”

Gumede said.

Judy Brightman, one of Gumede’s employers, assisted her by going to the Westville post office to help resolve the matter. “They said the money was deposited into her Postbank account on November 27 and withdrawn the next day,” Brightman said.

Brightman added that Gumede did not have a Postbank account.

She said the post office – which was out of hard copy affidavits – emailed her a copy for Gumede to sign in order to start an investigation into the incident.

“I was informed by Sassa that a Postbank account was opened in my name and that my monthly Sassa grant was being paid into this account. I have no knowledge of such an account and did not open it myself…” the affidavit read.

Sassa spokesperson Vusi Mahaye, while not aware of this particular case, said similar incidents had been reported since the start of the December 2018 payment cycle. Mahaye advised complainants to go to the Sassa office where the application was done in order to recapture the correct account number on the Sassa system.

He said the complainant would need to provide supporting documentation in the form of affidavits and a certified copy of their identity document for the investigation to take place. “The beneficiary must also open a charge of fraud with the SAPS.”

Mahaye said the outcome of the post office investigation would determine whether Gumede’s money would be refunded or not.

He said beneficiaries who encounter such hardship could go to the nearest Sassa for assistance with social relief. “We advise beneficiaries to keep their cards in a safe place and ensure that they do not share their PIN codes with anyone. For further details, we advise beneficiaries to contact us on our customer care numbers, 0338463400 or 0800601011,” said Mahaye.

Gumede said investigations into her matter were continuing.

“In the meantime, I can’t buy the children anything and the department told me that I must wait until the end of the month to get the grant,” Gumede said. The post office did not respond to questions.

“Money was deposited into her account and withdrawn the next day” Judy Brightman

Victim’s employer