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What has become abundantly clear is that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has once again failed the most vulnerable in our society. The card swap campaign has been a complete disaster and failed to reach its required audience. A lack of clear communication has created unnecessary stress and confusion. 

Of the 2.9 million beneficiaries who were on the SASSA gold card, it is estimated that over a million will not have made the switch to the Postbank card by tomorrow’s deadline.

Regulation 23 (1) of the Social Assistance Act provides options for beneficiaries to choose the payment method of their choice.  Beneficiaries who are unwilling or unable to switch to the new Postbank cards can receive payments into their own preferred bank accounts.

As GOOD we have been on the ground working with communities to try and assist residents in receiving payments via bank accounts. Commercial banks have joined the GOOD team at Hot Desks around Cape Town to facilitate the opening of these new accounts. GOOD will continue these efforts after the deadline. 

Our country is experiencing extreme poverty with many South Africans having limited to no access to income and relying heavily on social grants. By failing to effectively distribute state funds, we are failing the most vulnerable.

We are encouraged that beneficiaries will not be cut off from their grants past the deadline, however, the practicalities of receiving the grants via cash from the Post Office are yet to be seen. This method has previously resulted in lengthy queues and insufficient cash on site. In the past, we have heard reports of beneficiaries sleeping outside Post office sites or leaving empty-handed.

The inability to access the money they depend on in order to eat and survive will have disastrous consequences. 

As the GOOD Party, we are extremely supportive of government social relief efforts. 

However, Postbank and SASSA need to be held accountable for the mess they have created. Their poor performance negatively impacts vulnerable citizens across the country. It is time for them to pull up their sleeves and get to work.

Issued by Suzette Little, GOOD Deputy Secretary-General & City of Cape Town Councillor