Sassa beneficiaries get green light to keep using Postbank

Image credit: Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

“This brings certainty and reassurance to millions of social grant beneficiaries, who will continue to use their Postbank Black Cards and Sassa Gold Cards with confidence, enjoying uninterrupted access to their grants and associated banking benefits.

“Postbank reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of beneficiaries by ensuring their continued access to their social grants, which form an essential part of South Africa’s Constitutional promise of social protection for all its citizens,” the statement read.

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The bank said it will continue to stand firmly with beneficiaries, safeguarding their welfare and access to dignified, safe and reliable banking services.

GroundUp reports that Sassa has extended its MSA with Postbank by three months.

“This is to allow the executive authority time and space to deliberate on various issues from the two entities, and to give guidance,” Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said. The contract was supposed to lapse on Tuesday, 30 September.

Highlighting those affected, Black Sash advocacy manager Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker raised concerns about the implications for social grant beneficiaries and called for payments to continue uninterrupted.

"This has been an ongoing challenge for recipients served by Postbank, which Sassa highlighted as reasons for the termination," said Fayker.

Adding that Postbank has not indicated how it plans to address these challenges.

“Black Sash is worried that beneficiaries may be compelled to turn to private banks where there is no subsidising of fees and charges.

"Every time, beneficiaries bear the brunt of ongoing challenges with the administration and payment of grants,” Abrahams-Fayker said.