Minister implored beneficiaries to get new SASSA card.
MASHAMOTHANE
Minister of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Susan Shabangu addressed hundreds of people at Batau high school in Burgersfort on 18 August 2018. Her visit comes five years later after the constitutional court found that tender awarded to Cash Payment Services (CPS) was unlawful. It was in 2012 when court reveals that and gave SASSA mandate to terminate the contract of CPS.
In 2017 the department of social development failed to meet the court deadline and request court for one year extension which ended this year on March. Constitutional court disgruntled the department for failing to comply with the order. Court further urged social development (SASSA) to make transitions from CPS to Post Office with new card before the 1st of October 2018.
“We are aware of the beneficiaries who are not receiving their full grands. We started a new SASSA card on July this year and the transitions will take time. The new card system is giving us challenge however we are working hard on that. Part of the problem was network sufficient,” Shabangu said.
Minister Shabangu told beneficiaries more post offices would be build. She said her department asses to cancel under trees pay points for safety of beneficiary. She said new SASSA card does not deduct money from the people. Shabangu said the beneficiary could swipe three times a month without charges at any shops.
She implored SASSA beneficiaries to get a new card to indulge them to comply and met court deadline.
Alice Malapane was amongst the attendant who was not convinced by the minister. Alice said the allegation of terminating some under tree pay points would be challenge to grannies.
