The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has assured grant recipients that their cards will still work beyond March this year. On Friday the Sassa department refuted claims Sassa cards will stop operating on the end of March 2021.
In a statement, the department responded to claims on social media on the expiry of the SASSA-SAPO Card.
“Sassa is refuting social media misinformation and claims about the expiry of the Sassa-SAPO Card on 31 March 2021. These claims are not true. The Sassa cards will not stop working on 31 March 2021,”
The confusion arose when the SA Reserve Bank reported that Sassa cards would need to be replaced. The Sassa department outlined that there was no set date on when this would be done.
“Information on the card replacement will be made public in due course. Sassa clients have the right to choose their payment method and there is nothing that forces the clients who are currently being paid through the South Africa Post Office (SAPO) to change to bank accounts. They will still be paid using the current Sassa-SAPO card beyond April 2021,”
The department has indicated that older persons grants will be paid from 03 March.
“Disability grants will be paid from 04 February 2021. This includes any grants linked to these accounts. All other grants will be paid from 05 February 2021,”
“SASSA clients are reminded that they do not have to withdraw their funds on the day that they are available – once in the account, including the SASSA/SAPO card account, the funds can be accessed anytime during the month.”
