70 000 SASSA beneficiaries not paid due to verification issues
SASSA beneficiaries affected by the non-payment glitch had changed from the agency’s card to bank-issued cards.
About 70 000 beneficiaries are still waiting to receive their January social grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). This according to the agency is due to a glitch leading to the agency failing to verify the banking details of the beneficiaries.
The Democratic Alliance in a statement blames the agency for this glitch.
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SASSA BENEFICIARIES FEAR RECEIVING PAYMENT IN FEB
DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridget Masango indicated that in September last year, another glitch left hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries without payment for weeks. She said the fear for many of the unpaid Child Support Grant recipients is that they would only receive their funds in February, if at all.
“For many mothers, the Child Support Grant is their only income and SASSA’s payment failure places additional strain on them at the start of the school year when they have to purchase school uniforms, shoes, and other supplies – never mind ensuring that their children do not become part of South Africa’s horrendous malnutrition statistics,” said Masang.
She mentions that the DA has been inundated with concerns from beneficiaries that they might have to reapply and be without their funds for months.
“Their fears are further flamed and preyed upon by unfounded remarks that social grants will “likely disappear” should the ANC be voted out later this year.”
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SASSA SORTING OUT PAYMENT GLITCH
SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi clarified that the glitch was due to the misinterpretation or not corresponding details, leading to the agency failing to verify the banking details of the beneficiaries.
Speaking to Sowetan, he said most affected people had changed from the agency’s card to bank-issued cards.
“We are aware of non-payments, and this is a result of bank verifications, meaning that the details provided do not perfectly match or correspond to the ones registered in the bank. For example, you may find that a name has been misspelt or a letter is missing.”
He further advised beneficiaries not to panic as they were addressing the issue.
“We have tracked down all those who have not received their money and the number is 70,000. We are busy calling them to fix these human errors and once we have called you, you will receive your money in no time. We understand the frustrations that people have to eat and buy other needed stuff,” Letsatsi said.
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