KRAAIFONTEIN
Woensdag, 22 Januarie 2014 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | epos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za | www.tygerburger.co.za
SASSA CARDS: FEE ADDED
‘Charges’ get levied on old age grants DESIREÉ RORKE @dezzierorke
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probe was recently launched into small but irregular deductions made from pensioners who drew their old age grants at Pick n Pay pay points in December. This paypoint service was made available to all social grant beneficiaries in April last year, by means of their Sassa cards, which means they avoid standing in long queues for hours at Sassa paypoints each month. During December several pensioners in the Brackenfell/Kraaifontein area were charged additional fees ranging in amount between R2 and R10, when withdrawing their pensions at Pick n Pay in Cape Gate. According to statistical reports for 2013, 2.8 million people receive social grants in the Western Cape alone. Of this, 258 759 are old age grants.
Investigation “This is the first time a fee was charged, before it was free. “And why was the fee not the same across the board? Pick n Pay had a notice up that all Sassa transactions were free and now they are charging!” said one of the pensioners* TygerBurger spoke to. When this particular pensioner contacted the Sassa call centre, she was advised by a consultant that the matter was under investigation. On enquiry, Jonathan Ackerman, director of customer services at Pick n Pay, confirmed that the store does not charge any fee for the withdrawal of Sassa grant payments. “We have consulted with Sassa and it appears that some Sassa transactions may have incurred transaction fees... Pick n Pay considers the payment of social grants as a
Balancing act
service to our communities and does not profit from it at all,” he told TygerBurger. He referred customers who found they have been charged a transaction fee to the Sassa call centre. Shivani Wahab, spokesperson for Sassa also confirmed that there should be no transaction fees charged when beneficiaries access their social grants via approved merchants such as Pick n Pay. “Transaction fees apply only in the case of ATM withdrawals, where standard ATM rates apply,” she said. “We will have to take the matter up with CPS (Cash Paymaster Services) who is contracted to Sassa for the payment of social grants, for further investigation.”
Refunds It is not certain yet what the outcome of this investigation is, but TygerBurger could establish that no additional deductions were made from the pensioners in question during January. The deductions made in December however, were not refunded, according to one of the pensioners. “According to a Sassa consultant the money is still on my account but the Pick n Pay system shows nothing,” she complained on Monday. CPS is a business unit of global company NET1, who provides payment solutions and transaction processing services across several industries. It is further stated that the company derives up to 66 % of its revenue from its social welfare grant distribution business. At the time of going to print, TygerBurger had not received any updates on the progress or outcome of the aforesaid investigation. *Identity witheld for reasons of privacy V Sassa call centre 0800 60 01 60.
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The Mambo Jambo acrobats performing with a few of their young fans in Blouberg over the weekend. This group originally from Kenya and Tanzania, but now permanently in Cape Town, are old favourites at the V&A Waterfront, where they have performed regularly since 2005. They are also involved with empowerment projects where they train children from disadvantaged areas in their art. From front to back are Limo Safari, Salim Mbarak and Muhidin Salum. On the right is Mohamad Charo. Children who got to join the act are Teagan (left) and Tanner van Renen from Table View in the middle and Josh Sowade from West Beach on top. Read more on the group on page 8. PHOTO: CARINA ROUX