Author: Marecia Damons
Postbank and SASSA are racing against the 20 March deadline to replace 1.4 million expiring Gold Cards. In the Western Cape, more than 190,000 people still need to replace their cards with the new Black Cards. SASSA also said it is addressing long queues and staff shortages at its offices, while exploring doctor-initiated assessments to reduce office visits for disability grant applicants. The Agency also announced plans to implement biometric verification for all Social Relief of Distress grant beneficiaries to mitigate fraud and ensure the correct recipients are receiving grants. Postbank and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are…
The grant, introduced during the Covid lockdown, was intended to be a short-term solution for millions of people. The current extension of the SRD grant will end on 31 March 2026. In January, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that regulations limiting access to the SRD grant were unconstitutional and invalid. The court also ordered the government to increase both the grant amount and the income threshold to qualify. Speaking to the portfolio committee on social development last Wednesday, advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa, representing the department, told MPs that the government had appealed against the judgment they believe to be “flawed”. The…
More than two-million social grant beneficiaries still need to switch to the new Postbank Black Card, with the deadline recently extended from 28 February to 20 March. To speed up the process, Postbank has partnered with the Spar Group to add 200 service sites and trained tellers. Postbank aims to complete the transition by 30 June. More than two-million social grant beneficiaries still need to switch from the SASSA/Postbank Gold Card to the Black Card. This is according to Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe. Addressing Parliament’s social development committee on Tuesday, Mbengashe provided updates on the card swap process and measures…
SASSA has announced the suspension of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to beneficiaries suspected of fraud. Such beneficiaries are expected to verify their identities on SASSA’s Electronic Know Your Client system. But this system has also been suspended, leaving legitimate beneficiaries in the lurch. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is to suspend payments to beneficiaries of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant who are suspected of fraud. But the verification system has also been suspended, so beneficiaries who are suspected of fraud won’t be able to prove their identity. This means legitimate beneficiaries…
The pre-trial conference in the Thabo Bester escape case has been postponed to 24 July. Bester’s lawyers said they had difficulties with consulting him due to travel issues, and withdrew as his legal representatives. Bester complained about confidentiality issues when consulting with an attorney, accessing legal documents, prison conditions, and being handcuffed during court appearances The pre-trial for Thabo Bester, Nandipha Magudumana and seven co-accused was again unable to get underway at the Free State High Court on Wednesday. Bester, serving a life sentence for two counts of rape and one count of murder, escaped from the Manguang Correctional Centre…