*SASSA regrets the difficulties it has had with card replacements*

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has apologised for the challenges that social grant recipients have encountered about the replacement of their expired SASSA gold cards.

The SASSA Gold Card is issued by the Postbank and enables grant recipients to transact using the card and PIN within the National Payment System (NPS) at banks’ ATMs, South African Post Office branches, retailers, and Cash Pay Points (CPP).

All VISA and MasterCard expire after every 5 years.

SASSA currently has about 5,9 million social grant recipients who transact through the SASSA Gold cards, the majority of which will expire by June 2023.

Clients are urged to check the expiry date of their cards. All client payments will be processed as normal, and funds will be safely stored in the client’s bank accounts.

To avoid non-access to these funds in the client's bank accounts, recipients have the option to either replace the SASSA Gold Card or make use of the cardless withdrawal option provided by Postbank.

Alternatively, clients can also utilize the services of another bank.

Due to this, clients will need to request a change of payment method at their nearest local office or alternative venue that SASSA will make available specifically for this project.

Social grants recipients who choose to get their social grants payment through their personal bank account must bring along their proof of bank account, and proof of identity.

These documents should be submitted to the nearest SASSA Office to mandate SASSA to pay the beneficiary social grant into the chosen personal bank account.

There is no limit as to how many times beneficiaries can change their method of payment as it is their right to do so although they are advised to request the change of method of payment once a month.

SASSA officials are always ready to assist grant recipients whenever there is a need to exercise their rights.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame