NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has urged social grants beneficiaries who are still in possession of the old Sassa card, to urgently swap it for the new gold card or run the risk of not getting their grants in January 2019.

While there has been significant progress in migrating social grant beneficiaries from the old Sassa cards to the new gold cards, the agency is concerned that just over half a million beneficiaries are still holding on to the old cards, which have expired. Mahlangu said individual letters have also been sent to beneficiaries as part of government's mass communication campaign.

"November is the deadline for obtaining the new Sassa cards and unfortunately there will be no extension."

Losing the benefits
Acting Sassa CEO Abraham Mahlangu said beneficiaries holding on to the old card risk losing their benefits. "We wish to warn beneficiaries that soon we will no longer make any social grant payments into these old cards. Affected beneficiaries have to visit the nearest Sassa office to do a card swap,"

Mahlangu said Sassa and the South African Post Office (Sapo) are working tirelessly to migrate the remaining beneficiaries to the new gold Sassa card. "We are pleased to have complied with the instructions of the Constitutional Court, particularly in ensuring that Sassa gets rid of any contractual ties with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS)," said Mahlangu.

Beneficiaries who still have the old card can do a card swap at their nearest Sassa or post office. They have to bring along their ID and the old card so that they can be issued with the new one. The process takes less than five minutes.

Fake SMS and WhatsApp messages 
Mahlangu urged beneficiaries to ignore tempting SMSs and WhatsApp messages claiming that Sassa and some retailers are offering vouchers for unemployed people.

"This is fake news generated by criminals who want to defraud unsuspecting beneficiaries this festive season. Social grants for December will be made available from as early as 28 November 2018 at post offices, stores and ATMs to avoid the December rush. Cash pay points will, however, start paying from 3 December," Mahlangu explained.

Beneficiaries seeking more clarity should call Sassa toll free on 0800 60 10 11, visit Sassa news on Facebook or www.sassa.gov.za.

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