Latest Sassa News today –The discovery of a criminal network has forced the PostBank to stop paying social grants via gold cards. This left thousands of social grant beneficiaries needing to make alternative arrangements to access their monthly grants.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) announced in July that beneficiaries will not be able to collect their money at ATMs starting December 2021. Sassa gold card users were advised to withdraw the grants at retail outlets.

The PostBank has announced that it will no longer issue grants or loans to people selected as beneficiaries of social grants from the Department of Social Development. The bank says this decision was taken after they discovered a criminal network that targeted ATMs and personal bank accounts of grant beneficiaries.

PostBank spokesperson, Bongani Diako says they introduced early detection measures to assist the PostBank in identifying fraudulent activities. This led to the discovery of the criminal network.

They say the intention was to distribute social grants via the usual payment channels at the beginning of December 2022. No issues were encountered during the first two days of grant payments when the Older Persons grant and disability grants were being distributed.

However, on the third day of grant payments, the PostBank noticed abnormal activity across their platform which they believe was an attempted fraudulent activity related to ATM grant payments.

Diako says this led to forensic investigation upon which they are awaiting the outcome. This forensic investigation is being completed in collaboration with law enforcement entities.

SASS has dismissed allegations that they have been involved in any unlawful activity, including any involvement by their former employee Mr. Kazadi on social media and other platforms. They add that they are not ruling out any internal or external activities from the forensic investigation but are awaiting the results of the investigation for clear details.

While the payments are suspended, grant beneficiaries can withdraw their grant payments from several retail outlets or at a Post Office branch. These retail outlets include Checkers, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Usave and Boxer store.

“The card also works like a normal bank card. Beneficiaries actually use the card to purchase the essentials that they need at the retailers and that’s one of the strategies we put in place to change the behaviour of always having cash,” explained Diako.

So definitely come next month we back to business as usual

PostBank has announced that their system, which will provide Sassa beneficiaries with a gold card for access to their grants, is set to go live on Sunday.