SASSA Urges Social Grant Beneficiaries to be Careful of Fake SMSes

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has urged the public to be cautious of a fake SMS doing the rounds.

“SASSA notes with concern the increasing number of fake SMSes that are being circulated to beneficiaries.”

The organisation said that the agency has received reports recently that beneficiaries received an SMS instructing them to re-register their social grants because cash pay points will be fully phased-out by August 2018.

The Fake SMS reads as follows: “All Sassa recipients. please you have to re-register yourself for Sassa payments. From 1st of June. There is will be no pay points anymore. Each 1 has to apply by post office or a bank of your choice. So please collect application forms by office from the 1st of June to take to bank or post office your choice. If you do not re register you will not get paid in August or thereafter. Please share with all state pensioners. Thank you.”

“Contents of this SMS are misleading and cause unnecessary confusion and panic among social grant beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are urged to ignore this message as it is incorrect,” the agency said in a statement.

The agency said beneficiaries do not need to re-register their grants… however  they are requested to swap their old Sassa cards for the new one before the end of September 2018. This can be done at local Sassa offices, pay points and certain post offices.

Letsatsi said contrary to the information in the SMS, beneficiaries did not have to re-register their grants. He said they were, however, requested to swap their old Sassa cards for the new Sassa card by end of September 2018.

“This can be done at local Sassa offices, pay points or selected post offices.”

Some pay points are being gradually reduced – such as those within 5km of a post office (which will take over as the point of payment), but all pay points are not being phased out as per the SMS.