The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it is concerned about the rise in fake SMSes being circulated to grant beneficiaries.
In the most recent message circulating on social media and cellphone chat apps, beneficiaries are instructed to re-register for social grants because cash pay points will be fully-phased out by August this year.
The card swap campaign has started in earnest- bring your ID and old card to enjoy benefits of the new Sassa card- “Efitlhile” no more illegal deductions pic.twitter.com/VRjI062PTc
— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) June 2, 2018
Sassa spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi says this is not true and all the agency is instituting is a Sassa card swap.
Change to the new Sassa card or choose to receive your grant though your bank #sassacares @The_DSD pic.twitter.com/WpQbfIQuSd
— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) June 2, 2018
“This is far from the truth, we have been doing the card swap because we are changing from the old card to the new one and we just want to make sure that the process goes as smooth as possible. This SMS I think seeks to make sure that there’s chaos… people flock to our offices, people panic and so on.”
“It’s not about reregistration – and that’s how the SMS is wrong, it’s about the card swap. Remember we have an old Sassa card [and] we are gradually introducing what we call South African Post Office (Sapo) Sassa card. Basically what happens – when a beneficiary comes to the pay point, especially those who are getting cash, they come with old card and get their money. They will be able to get the new card – and all that we need is for them to give them us the old card and we give them the new card,” explains Letsatsi.
Ms P Bhengu, KZN Sassa Regional Manager arrived in KwaMashu G section Community Hall to assist with #SASSACardSwap and to also check progress. @OfficialSASSA @The_DSD @GovernmentZA @PostofficeSa pic.twitter.com/Xx3BzoZaTy
— GCIS_KwaZulu-Natal (@GCIS_KZN) June 2, 2018
