SASSA grant card swop deadline end of this week
SOCIAL grant beneficiaries have until the end of next week to swop their old SASSA cards for the new gold one.
This comes as the South African Post Office (SAPO) prepares to officially take over grant payments at the end of September when the Cash Paymaster Services contract expires.
‘Social grant beneficiaries who have not changed to the new cards have been urged to do so without delay at any SASSA office or Post Office.
‘People who took cards from other institutions such as banks can also swop to the new card,’ the Post Office said in a statement.
Beneficiaries can swop their cards at local SASSA offices or at Post Offices in Mbazwana, KwaMsane, eSikhaleni, Hlabisa, Richards Bay, eShowe and Empangeni among others in the King Cetshwayo, uMkhanyakude and Zululand districts.
To date new gold SASSA cards have been issued to 6,5 million grant recipients.
SAPO Chief Operations Officer Lindiwe Kwele said the partnership between the two entities benefits millions of beneficiaries who will now be freed from practices such as unwanted deductions.
‘The new SASSA card is an improvement on the old card as it does not allow deductions for things such as airtime, loans or prepaid electricity.
‘This new card also allows three free cash withdrawals at points of sale, one free withdrawal at the Post Office per month, free swipes at points of sale and is accepted by all ATMs displaying the VISA sign,’ the agency said.
The Post Office is now in its final week of cash payments to just over 300 000 social grant recipients at 1 213 payment points. These are in areas that do not have a Post Office within reach, or any national payment infrastructure points.
More than 200 000 of social grants recipients in isolated areas have already been successfully paid via SAPO’s mobile units, with the remainder due to be paid this week in line with SASSA’s payment schedule.