Local pensioners are at their wits end regarding the saga of which agency will be responsible for their monthly grants, come April 1.
The question of sustaining the livelihoods of South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant recipients, still hangs overhead, as court rows over the dispute have yet to reach a conclusion. Nearly 6 million grant dependents risk not receiving their money from April 1, 2018 after the National Treasury turned down SASSA's request to use the post office's Postbank (a bank that's not registered in South Africa), for grant payments when the contract with the service provider, Cash Payment Services, ends on March 31.
According to court papers filed on March 12, SASSA reportedly admitted that there is no feasible solution to guarantee cash payments to grant recipients by the April 1 deadline. As a result, locals - especially the elderly - who depend on the SASSA grants, might experience a delay in payment.
Speaking to the Laudium Sun, an elderly resident of Indigo Street, Abdula Hafiji (73) said, “The only income I have is the SASSA grant. Fortunately, my son pays for big expenses like the house, water and lights so I can live with dignity, because the SASSA grant isn't enough to sustain us in life, in this day and age. I know of some elderly residents who don't have that kind of financial support. How will they survive if their SASSA grant doesn't come through?”
The Chairperson of the Laudium Care Services for the Aged (a registered non-profit organisation serving the elderly), Ahmed Arbee, confirmed to the Laudium Sun that most of the older residents that they assist, depend on the SASSA grants, and that they were very concerned for their members. “We just hope that the government will find a solution by month end.” Arbee said.
A SASSA Grants Administrator said, “Regardless of anything else, people will be paid in April. No question about it, despite the Easter weekend. ”
Abdula Hafiji: Concerned about other pensioners.