Some Sassa grants will only be paid today after glitch backlog

Postbank says pensioners and those receiving a disability grant can collect their money on Friday after a backlog in reversals. 

The company, which is responsible for distributing the grants, suffered a technical glitch leaving thousands unable to withdraw or collect their money.

Postbank said while some who were not able to get their grants earlier this week are now able to access their money, the old age and disability grants will only be fully available at retailers and ATMs from Friday.

READ ALSO: Sassa grants halted due to technical difficulty at Postbank

Director of human rights organisation the Black Sash, Rachel Bukasa, told Newzroom Afrika the glitch had caused “a dignity issue”.

READ ALSO: Sassa grant payments resume at the post office and via ATM

“You have older persons sleeping on the floor because they can’t afford to go home and come back the next day. It’s a dignity issue of people not being able to purchase food, electricity and the basic necessities that they need.

“What needs to be acknowledged here is that people’s dignity rights have been impacted in a horrendous way and an apology that this cannot happen again,” she said.

This was not the first time that beneficiaries have been left without their grants, after a technical glitch to the Sassa gold card last year. The company also suffered a cybercrime attack in 2021, leading to a financial loss of approximately R90m.

READ ALSO: Postbank: Sassa grant payment problems not another cyber attack