Post Office’s Postbank in association with SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) and Alpha World Ministries assisted the elderly of the Protea North and Naledi extension two communities to swap their current SASSA cards for new ones last Wednesday.
This comes after SASSA’s contract with the previous grant dispenser, Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), was terminated following irregularities with the contract.
The elderly of the communities appeared to be confused at first with the changes taking place but were soon put at ease by Post Office Westgate Branch Manager, Mpuse Motsoeneng.
The deadline for pensioner’s to change their SASSA cards is July 30, while all other cards should all be phased out by September 30. The new cards for pensioners will be operational from August 1.
Motsoeneng explained that these new cards served to protect the elderly as no illegal deductions were allowed to be made on them. “This card will no longer accept debit orders that are unnecessary, it will only allow two funeral cover deductions,” Motsoeneng said.
The new card further offers beneficiaries benefits such as:
1. Three cash withdrawals from any participating store (such as Shoprite, Boxer, etc)
2. One free over the counter cash withdrawal at the Post Office
3. Unlimited free swipes (purchase payments) at all retailers
4. 1 free ATM balance and bank statement enquiry per month.
Motsoeneng has warned pensioners against accepting loans from banks that may offer them to them as they know their contracts with SASSA are expiring and want to keep the pensioners entangled in their web.
“As Alpha World Ministries we knew we couldn’t wait until the cut-off date when all the elderly people in the country are running around so we thought we’d rather do it while we still have time,” said Pastor Maureen Sibadela.
Sibadela has noted that they are bringing this opportunity to other wards but experience problems in liaising with councillors, whom they need permission from, who are always busy. The elderly were also given the opportunity to register for new digital decoders as part of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services’ mission to go fully digital next year.
Furthermore, they received free health checks from Naledi Clinic while the Jozi Ihlomile peer educators were on hand to answer any health related questions the elderly may have. SASSA urges all beneficiaries to get their cards swapped before September 30 in order to continue receiving their grants.
