More awareness needed about expiry of SASSA grant cards

4 May 2023

The IFP in the KZN Legislature is concerned about reports that approximately 5.9 million social grant recipients who transact through SASSA gold cards, are now facing a bleak future if they don't renew their cards, which will expire at the end of June 2023.

This is of grave concern to the IFP.

We are aware that SASSA has stated that it will extend office hours to assist clients but this is not enough. We call upon SASSA to dispatch mobile offices into rural areas to ensure that all grant recipients are able to renew their cards on time. Further, SASSA can use community halls, churches and shopping centres to assist grant recipients, as well as make use of government events, such as IDP community meetings, to raise awareness.

We call upon SASSA to conduct extensive awareness campaigns on the gold card expiry issue, as we know that many older persons who live alone might not notice that their cards are due to expire.

It is of further concern that the Post Office was used as a service provider, as it is in a complete shambles. The Post Office is not the right place to handle the process of grant card renewal, as it has failed grant recipients on many occasions, due to its poor service and lack of customer care. Further, even when there is no load shedding they have cited ‘network problems’ and are unable to provide assistance.

We cannot afford to have grant recipients not receiving their grants in July. No excuses for incompetence will be tolerated. There are many people who depend on grants for survival.

The IFP therefore calls upon the KZN MEC for Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, to ensure that all grant recipients have access to places where they can renew their grant cards.

Issued by Les Govender, IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Social Development, 4 May 2023