This statement comes after several pensioners of Knysna and surrounds were left stranded without money at the payout venue, Knysna Town Hall in March and April.
A number of grant beneficiaries had arrived at the venue only to find that the payment date as printed on their payment notes were incorrect. A pensioner initially visited the Knysna-Plett Herald on March 14, informing this newspaper that none of the CPS staff members had arrived at the Knysna Town Hall to hand out their grants. The affected pensioners were then informed that the actual payout date was not March 14, but March 15. Empty-handed pensioners then had to find their own way back home. Many of them had no money to pay for the trip return home and had to borrow money from friends in town while others had to be fetched by relatives who owned vehicles.
This scenario was repeated at the Knysna Town Hall on April 15. The correct payout date at that venue was in fact April 16.
"In respect of the events of April 15, according to the information received from CPS their service point members were alerted to the problem and went to monitor, but could not find any beneficiaries at the hall in Knysna," explained Wahab.
She further explained, "CPS acknowledged that the incorrect date was printed on slips at one machine until the CPS officials became aware of it and corrected the error. Therefore not all beneficiaries at the pay point received the wrong date."
When asked why these beneficiaries cannot withdraw their grant money like SASSA card holders who have access to funds via ATMs from the first day of each month, Wahad responded, "It is the beneficiary's personal choice where he/she wants to collect their grants. Some of them feel it is safer at payout venues as security services are on duty at the venues. Unfortunately the access to approved merchants and ATMs in some smaller rural areas might be problematic and the payout venue is the only venue where grants can be collected."
Grant beneficiaries to re-register
All grant beneficiaries not yet registered on the new biometric payment system are urged to to do so before the extended deadline date of April 30 in order to get their SASSA Payment Cards. Sekulula account holders who have temporary SASSA Payment Cards, are also advised to re-register with full biometrics to be issued with a permanent SASSA Payment Card.
Beneficiaries who have not re-registered by the end of April will be issued with a written notification urging them to re-register within 90 days, or lose their grants. "After cancellation has been affected a beneficiary will have to go through the full application process again to access a grant. This could mean that a person could be without a grant for a period" added Wahab.
For further details, visit the SASSA website on www.sassa.gov.za or call SASSA toll free at 0800 60 10 11 or CPS at 0800 60 01 60 or direct emergency enquiries to 021 400 2322.
A number of pensioners received CPS notes which had the wrong payout dates printed on it. Several pensioners were left stranded at the Knysna Town Hall on both March 14 and April 15. SASSA and CPS have ensured that this problem has been resolved.
