Relief as ‘stolen’ Sassa cards turn up after burglary at post office

Post Office employees were left red-faced after it turned out that a huge stack of social grant cards they believed had been stolen were a lot safer than they thought.

So safe in fact that nobody appears to have known quite where about 3,000 Sassa cards were in the wake of a burglary at the Zwide post office.

They were thought to have been stolen during the weekend burglary when about R100,000 worth of other goods were stolen.

SA Post Office spokesperson Johan Kruger said: “The stock of Sassa cards in the post office branch was indeed thought to have been stolen in the burglary.

“However, the post office employees found the cards in the strongroom in the office once the police had completed their investigation and allowed staff back on the premises.”

Kruger reassured residents all bank cards in the post office’s possession were always kept under lock and key.

“Meanwhile, the SA Post Office continues to improve its security measures at all outlets,” he said. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said it appeared the thieves had gained entry to the premises using bolt cutters to cut the burglar bars.

The incident happened sometime between lunchtime on Saturday, when staff locked up, and Monday morning.

Beetge confirmed that the suspects had managed to circumvent the alarm system during the burglary.

“The case is still being investigated and all leads are being followed up,” he said.