SASSA has reassured social grant beneficiaries in the Eastern Cape that their cards will remain operational after December this year.
In a statement, Sassa senior manager of communications Sandy Godlwana said cards would work beyond the expiry date of December 2017 and urged beneficaries to continue using their cards until an official announcement was made.
SASSA had also received complaints from social grant beneficiaries about companies offering them financial service products under the pretext that they are working with, or are endorsed by SASSA.
“SASSA does not have any relationship with, nor does it endorse, any company that offers financial products such as microloans, cell phone airtime, insurance products including life funeral cover and clothing accounts.”
According to regulation, SASSA was not allowed to make any deductions from beneficiaries. The social assistance legislation stipulated that SASSA could only deduct a maximum of ten percent (10%) for funeral policies.
SASSA was thus calling on all social grant beneficiaries to be wary of callers claiming to be SASSA officials. “The caller requests confidential information such as Identity numbers, card numbers and PIN numbers.”
He advised SASSA card holders not to divulge confidential information over the phone, especially the PIN number, including to SASSA officials.
Victims of unlawful deductions should visit their nearest SASSA office where SASSA staff will assist with completion of necessary forms. For assistance they can call the SASSA Call Centre Toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11 or the SASSA Eastern Cape Regional Office Customer Care Unit: 043 707 6335.
