More than 150 000 SASSA accounts suspended: Here’s WHY …
It’s a forgettable start to the New Year with 150 000 SASSA accounts suspended this week. Here’s why and what to do if you’re affected …
A story we covered yesterday about SASSA accounts suspended turns out to be far more serious than initially thought. The South African Social Security Agency revealed yesterday (Wednesday 10 January 2024), after we’d published our story, that more the 150 000 Children’s Grants were suspended at the start of the New Year.
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According to GroundUp, SASSA denies ‘technical problems’ were behind the SASSA accounts being suspended. Paseka Letsatsi of SASSA said on Radio702 yesterday that the suspensions were due to ‘fraudulent activities’ detected as part of its monthly verification process.
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SASSA ACCOUNTS SUSPENDED
However, in a contradicting statement on IOL, SASSA blamed the latest round of non-payments and accounts suspensions on incorrect banking details provided by beneficiaries. So, which one was it, fraudulent activity or invalid banking details?
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SASSA communications officer, Omphemetse Molopyane, had this to say. “The suspensions were due to incorrect banking details provided when applying for grants or the incorrect changing of payment methods. The agency further notes that bank verification must be done monthly with different banks as part of industry-standard practice,” concluded Molopyane.
WHO TO CONTACT?
If you’re affected, you’re urged to contact SASSA as soon as possible. Click on the relevant links below to find a SASSA branch nearest you:
- SASSA offices in Gauteng.
- SASSA offices in Eastern, Northern and Western Cape.
- SASSA offices in Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
The agency urges grantees to ensure they provide correct banking details when applying for social grants for the first time or making any changes to their personal details. This is to ensure the accounts are not flagged as fraudulent.
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The growing number of SASSA accounts suspended in January 2024 relates mostly to Children’s Grants, which include the:
- Child Care Dependency Grant.
- Child Support Grant.
- Foster Child Grant.
Still unresolved, it is unclear whether recipients will receive double money in the February run scheduled for Tuesday 6 February 2024. The timing of this misstep by SASSA could not be worse for South Africa’s needy children as they prepare to go back to school and parents have to buy food, textbooks and stationery.
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What do you think of the more than 150 000 SASSA accounts suspended? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.