Following a series of technical glitches targeted at the Post Bank and false rumours about the validity of the gold payment card, the South African Social Security Agency has had to set the record straight for grant recipients.
After false information about their Gold Card started circulating on social media, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in Mpumalanga worked quickly to reassure its beneficiaries that the gold payment card was still in use.
Sassa’s Senior Manager, Senzeni Ngubeni went on to remind this group of social grant beneficiaries that the gold payment card is still valid
The gold card remains active, even though there is an expiring date. Beneficiaries must not panic or succumb to the hijacking by scammers and circulating fake news that the card will expire in April 2023.
He added that fraudsters who pose as Sassa officials and target elderly and disabled people in their homes must be immediately reported to the local SAPS and that Sassa will in due time announce changes if there are any.
This comes after Sassa Gold Card holders experienced delays in receiving their child support grant payment from the Post Bank, an issue that also affected recipients of the SRD grant. It would later be revealed that this was the result of an external security threat towards the Post Bank.
Due to this, the agency had to temporarily suspend Postbank-issued gold card ATM transactions for December, triggering frustration and sparking rumours among social grant beneficiaries
The payment gold card can still be used at Postbank, ATMs, and retailers. Beneficiaries have also been urged to provide Sassa access to their bank accounts as an additional secure and convenient payment option.
The agency offers financial assistance to millions of South Africans who depend on it for essentials like food, medicine, and childcare costs to survive. False news regarding its operations and dealings is significant and potentially harmful because it is vital to the social support and development of the nation.
For more information beneficiaries can contact SASSA toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11 or the customer care helpdesk at [013] 754 – 9428/9363 from 08:00 – 16:00 during weekdays Monday to Friday.
