Elderly and wheelchair-bound Sizeni Mabizela (81) was shattered when her grandson, Sanele Mabizela, went to withdraw her SASSA pension on April 6 and the card was declined.
This has caused much trauma in Gogo Sizeni’s life as her entire family is dependent on her pension grant money. Gogo Sizeni read about Stephen Harris’s story in the Courier and she and her grandson, Sanele, visited the Courier offices to report on their problem.
She explained: “I used my pension money to run the Mabizela household and on top of that, I have to see to my grandchildren’s school needs. I am still shocked that this has happened and I hope and pray that SASSA fixes this urgently.”
Sanele, Gogo Sizeni’s grandson said: “I usually withdraw Gogo’s money at the ABSA ATM on Victoria Street and on this particular day I went to the ATM and to my surprise the card was declined. Perplexed and in disbelief, I contacted my granny and we immediately went to SASSA office. We were told that the card was cancelled on March 20 and a new one was issued.”
Gogo Sizeni has filed a report with the Post Office and SASSA regarding this but has not yet heard from them.
Investigating Officer, Colonel Du Plessis from Vryheid, told the Courier that the case of the six suspects, arrested in Vryheid, after they were found in possession of 347 SASSA cards is ongoing. The suspects are still in custody and Col du Plessis said that “a case of theft was opened and the State opposed bail – the case is now with the National Criminal Intelligence Unit in Pietermaritzburg.”
