The new South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant disbursement system was introduced in March 2012, after a successful re-registration process.
This is according to Sassa spokesman, Steve Mabona, who says it means that at Sassa they know all their beneficiaries and they are banked, which makes transacting easy and less inconvenience.
A transaction takes less than five minutes with a new card.
It also protects Sassa and beneficiaries from fraud and corruption or any other criminality.
“The card system will minimise fraudulent grant applications and collections and reduce grant administration costs by distributing all grant payments electronically,” says Mabona.
The voice recording system was implemented in March to further prevent fraud.
Although the voice recording process is slow at the moment, it is because people are not used to call in each and every month.
“We are hoping in time things will improve,” says Mabona.
Refileo Masinare went to draw money from an ATM utilising her pin number on April 2, but the slip reflected insufficient funds.
She went to another ATM from a different bank and could only draw R50 and the slip reflected a balance of R4.
“I want to know where the rest of the money is,” she asks.
It is alleged Masinare did not call in for her voice recording, which caused her money not to be transferred.
Mabona says all those who want to access their money utilising a pin number, will have to do so (call in) every month before they go to the ATM or centre to draw money.
The voice recording numbers are 082 1277 or 0860 690 717.
The card holders’ voice will then be validated and only after the validation process is done, will the money be available for withdrawal.
When large amounts are being withdrawn Sassa officials encourage people to rather draw money at a paypoint and not at any merchants.
According to Mabona, enough security guards are there to safeguard the safe withdrawal and payouts.
If the money is not withdrawn it will still be there on the first of the next month.
The payment cycle starts after a voice recording has been received and the money will immediately be available on the first of the month.
The payment cycle closes on the 21st of the month and the money will be available again on the first of the next month.
“The money is not going anywhere, it is still in the system.
“Although it is not accessible, it will be available again on the first of the next month,” says Mabona.
Sassa utilised three payment methods with the new card system to make it easier for the cardholders.
Money can be drawn at any Sassa paypoint which includes a community hall or municipal offices; a merchant including Spa, Boxer, Pick n Pay, Shoprite Checkers and an ATM.
With any complaints, officials will need the cardholder’s ID number and contact details.
A woman was recently robbed of her Sassa card at Selcourt Towers.
Gladys Gameson, manager of Nedbank at the centre, says it caused a huge problem.
Gameson took the woman to the Springs Sassa office to report the incident and to block her card, but R2 000 was already withdrawn.
All problems need to be reported at the nearest Sassa office or by contacting 0800 601 011 or 011 241 8300.
