Sassa cards still usable after expiry

THE South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has allayed fears that social grants recipients’ bank cards would expire in December, saying the cards would not be deactivated.

The agency said it had been inundated with inquiries from worried social grants recipients who wanted to know if their Sassa bank cards would still be valid after December since the cards expire at the end of the year.

Eastern Cape Sassa spokeswoman Sandy Godlwana said their regional offices had been flooded with inquiries on the expiry date given on the Sassa bank cards.

“Following a number of inquiries from social grant beneficiaries in the province about the expiry of the Sassa card, beneficiaries are reminded to keep using their current Sassa card.

“The cards will December 2017.

“They will work beyond the expiry date.

“Beneficiaries are requested to continue using their Sassa card until an official announcement has been made,” said Godlwana.

The last time the 17 million Sassa beneficiaries were faced with uncertainty was when Judge Johan Froneman declared the contract between the Sassa and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS ), a company distributing cash to all Sassa beneficiaries, would be suspended for 12 months. not expire in

Godlwana said they would make sure beneficiaries were reassured that their Sassa cards would continue working.

Godlwana said they would embark on an awareness campaign where they would use their mobile trucks to visit 81 wards in the province to convey the message.

She said 40 wards had already been visited.

“The agency has good working relations with traditional leadership in all wards and makes use of their assistance to further engage our beneficiaries about these issues in their areas.

“The communication and marketing unit will also embark on a massive media campaign to create more awareness,” said Godlwana. —