Despite the messages circulated on social media saying the cards will expire at the end of March, they will still be valid. Sassa says the cards will have to be replaced but no date has been set for this.
THE SOUTH African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has confirmed that social grant cards will still be valid beyond March 31, 2021.
This follows circulated social media messages stating that the card will expire and stop working at the end of March.
Sassa’s provincial spokesperson, Inno Khonou said the social media messages are false.
“The Sassa cards will not stop working on March 31, 2021.
“The cards will have to be replaced, as indicated by the SA Reserve Bank report, but there is no set date by which time this must be done,” Khonou said.
She added that Information on the card replacement will be made public in due course.
“Sassa clients have the right to choose their payment method and there is nothing that forces the clients who are currently being paid through the South Africa Post Office (Sapo) to change to bank accounts. They will still be paid using the current Sassa-Sapo card beyond April 2021,” she said.
Khonou added that social grants will be paid in the first week of February.
“Older person’s grants will be paid from February 3, 2021 and disability grants will be paid from February 4, 2021. All other grants will be paid from February 5, 2021.”
She reminded Sassa clients that they do not have to withdraw their funds on the day that they are available as the money will be accessible anytime of the month once it is deposited onto the card.
