Sassa suspends payments at cash paypoints amid unrest
JOBURG – Sassa CEO Totsie Memela requested beneficiaries not to panic and stay safe until further notice, adding that payments will be made as soon as the situation and calm and no longer dangerous.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) suspended mobile paypoints yesterday, July 12, until further notice.
Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said in a statement, due to the unrest in the country that has been escalating over the past few days, the Cash In Transit industry informed Sassa they would not be providing any cash delivery services to the Sassa cash paypoints until further notice. This is to ensure the safety of the Sassa beneficiaries as well as their own.
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“Beneficiaries are urged to remain calm and await communication as to when the payment at paypoints will resume. Sassa beneficiaries are reminded that their cards can be used to purchase goods or receive cash from merchants or bank ATMs. However, beneficiaries are urged to ensure that it is safe for them to frequent any of these alternative facilities and to follow the Covid-19 protocols at all times,” said Letsatsi.
Sassa CEO Totsie Memela requested beneficiaries not to panic and stay safe until further notice. “We have to protect our beneficiaries as they might be caught up in the crossfire especially those in high-risk areas. Payments will be made as soon as the situation is calm and it is safe,” said Memela.
Memela added that Sassa has noticed an increase in heists involving the Post Office and cash-in-transit vehicles in the past months.
Sassa started their monthly payments on July 6 for older persons, followed by disability grants on July 7. From July 8, all other grants payments were made. The cash paypoints opened yesterday, 12 July.
