Grants helped us – Tete

WBO Bantamweight world boxing champion, Zolani Tete, was guest of honour at a South African Social Security Services (Sassa) Eastern Cape function at Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium last week.

The engagement was organised by Sassa to demonstrate the implementation of the new South African Post Office (Sapo) Sassa card which will help ensure beneficiaries get their grants without any problems in future.

Tete, a former Sassa social grant beneficiary, said that grants helped his family over many years, through the toughest of times.

“Sassa has helped my family a lot. The time my father stopped working things were hard at home, but because we received the social grant we were able to get school uniforms and food on the table.

“We slept better with the hope that by the end of the month we would receive our grants,” Tete said. The fighter said that because of Sassa his mother receives a disability grant every month, and his father an old-age grant.

Sassa’s new Eastern Cape regional executive manager, Bandile Maqetuka, said the event allowed him a better understanding of the blockages in service delivery.

“Because of the challenges in the province and the new card we are about to implement, I was brought in to make sure we minimise these problems to ensure that all beneficiaries who are eligible to get their grants will get their monies without any hassles,” Maqetuka said.

He said that the event was also a good chance for him to engage with staff members.

“I’m also here to ensure that the staff clearly understand what is required of them and to observe good governance principles,” he said.

According to the Sassa website, the changeover from the old SASSA card to the new one for existing beneficiaries had been available since Wednesday.

Beneficiaries should note that the old Sassa card may still be used up until September 30 this year.