Sassa glitches leave many without cash

The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) was hit by accidental double payments in some areas, and no payments in others, due to glitches in the system as it tried to make payment days less crowded by extending the dates.

KwaZulu-Natal Sassa spokesperson Sandy Godlwana said some beneficiaries had found that their money was not available. She said that some recipients in the Western Cape had been paid double by mistake.

“It’s Western Cape that has an issue of double payments. We didn’t have an issue of double payments, but we had an issue of people not receiving the payment,” she said.

However, Godlwana said the money was available from 3pm yesterday from banks or the Post Office. She added people could also get their money today if they prefer.

She said that Sassa’s intention was to prevent pensioners and the disabled from being exposed to large crowds during the coronavirus pandemic, and that they were only trying to help when they set aside the special days for these categories of beneficiary.

They are not yet sure what caused the glitch.

Comment from the national Sassa spokesperson was not immediately available and spokespersons for the department of social development were also asked for further information.

According to Voice of the Cape, about 435 000 people in the Western Cape received duplicate payments, which were now being reversed.

Two Post Office employees in the Western Cape said they had found something was amiss when at least five beneficiaries said they had tried to use their cards at a supermarket, but the money was not showing in their accounts, or they had been paid double.

Sassa’s offices are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and so nobody is available in person to handle queries. People can only call the helpline.

The Post Office employees said they were unable to do anything to help them, other than lend a sympathetic ear and tell them to wait for further instructions.

The department of social development announced a number of extra payments to help families through the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to shops and businesses being closed, jobs being lost and children being kept out of school.

– News24 Wire

About 435 000 people in the Western Cape received duplicate payments, which were now being reversed.