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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will be driving urgent interventions around the non-payment of SASSA grants to grant beneficiaries.

This comes as cybersecurity issues caused the blocking of SASSA cards at retail paypoints and the swallowing of cards at ATMs in Van Wyksvlei, Carnavon, and Vosburg. The beneficiaries were left increasingly desperate to make alternative arrangements for grant payments to be processed in other towns.

These beneficiaries include a senior citizen in her nineties, who was travelling between Van Wyksvlei and Upington to make alternative arrangements for her grant to be paid. Due to an accident on the road, she is now dead before she could collect the grant intended to provide for her in her old age.

Throughout the week, members of the DA have tried to engage with the MEC for Social Development to resolve the issue. I have also escalated the issue to the DA’s Shadow Minister for Social Development, Bridget Masango. The provincial spokesperson for Social Development, Priscilla Isaacs, will continue to champion this issue so that the most vulnerable members of our society can be protected.

Issued by Fawzia Rhoda, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Finance