IN THE NEWS Sassa warns of fake SMS
SOCIAL grant recipients in Kimberley and the Northern Cape have been warned to be on the alert for fake SMSes instructing them to re-register their social grants because cash paypoints will be fully phased out by August 2018.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) said in a statement yesterday that it had become aware of a fake SMS being circulated to beneficiaries.
The SMS reads as follows: “All Sassa recipients .please you have to re-register yourself for Sassa payments. From 1st of June. There is will be no paypoints anymore. Each 1 has to apply by post office or a bank of your choice. So please collect application forms by office from the 1st of June to take to bank or post office your choice. If you do not re-register you will not get paid in August or thereafter. Please share with all state pensioners. Thank you.”
According to Sassa, the contents of the SMS are “misleading and cause unnecessary confusion and panic among social grant beneficiaries”.
“Beneficiaries are urged to ignore this message as it is incorrect,” the agency said yesterday.
“Beneficiaries do not have to re-register their grants, however, they are requested to swop their old Sassa cards for the new Sassa card by end of September 2018,” Sassa spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, pointed out.
This can be done at local Sassa offices, paypoints or selected post offices.
“Sassa would like to clarify that cash paypoints will be gradually reduced (not fully phased out as alleged in the SMS). Where a paypoint is within 5km radius of a post office, the post office will take over payments for that paypoint.
“Beneficiaries can also choose whichever method of payment that they are comfortable with. They can opt for their social grant to be deposited directly into their personal bank account (including PostBank) or they can use their Sassa cards to withdraw at ATMS and merchants (e.g. Pick n Pay, Shoprite etc.),” Letsatsi added.
“Should a beneficiary choose to have their grant deposited directly into their personal bank account they should go to the Sassa office where they registered their grant and request for an Annexure C form. This form must be completed by their bank of choice and returned to Sassa.”
Letsatsi stressed that beneficiaries would continue to receive their social grants beyond August 2018.
“We will endeavour to ensure that the transition of beneficiaries from cash paypoints to electronic methods of payments happens smoothly and without any hassles.”
Beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the Sassa toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11 or visit their nearest Sassa office if ever in doubt about any message they receive.