The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has moved to reassure social grants recipients that the SASSA gold card is not being replaced.
This follows unverified reports that circulated on social media earlier this week. These reports caused panic among grant beneficiaries who use the card, SASSA said.
SASSA gold card is not being replaced
“The SASSA gold card remains valid and acceptable on the National Payment System; this includes ATMS and retailers,” the Agency clarified in a statement on Wednesday (16 November).
“Messages on social media [claiming] that grant recipients will not receive their grants payment in December if they have not changed their cards are false.
“Any changes on the payment of social grants will be communicated through official SASSA social media platforms, through media and by SASSA officials and not through personal social media accounts or voice notes from unknown people.”
The Agency’s message means that grant beneficiaries should not rely on unverified social media accounts for news on grants. Instead, they should follow updates from SASSA’s official social media accounts and established news websites.
The official social media accounts are:
- SASSA News on Facebook.
- @OfficialSASSA on Twitter.
“The SASSA gold card allows you free transactions at ATMs and retailers, no bank charges for the first three transactions and protection from illegal deductions,” the Agency concluded.