Durban — The social relief of distress (SRD) grant has been a source of distress for those whose have irregularities with their information. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has introduced an online biometric evaluation of applicants in an effort to prevent fraud.
Qabuka Goodman Mpungose, 42, of Ntuzuma, said that he had been applying for the SRD grant since November last year with no luck.
Mpungose said that the phone that he was using during the application process broke, and he called the call centre to ask them to assist him him with changing his number in the system, and they said that they would call him back.
He also visited the Sassa offices in Durban and made countless calls, and they have sent him back and forth to Sassa representatives with no progress.
In January 12, seeing that he had no help, he called the call centre yet again, but they told him to visit the Sassa offices in Pietermaritzburg. He said that one representative at the call centre told him that he would not receive his grant unless he changed his green identity book to the smart card ID.
“I have called and visited the offices in Durban Station many times in the past six months, using the money I have borrowed since I am unemployed. I need someone who will help me get the money – that is my right,” he said.
Another complainant from Inanda said that they also had been waiting in vain for their grant. They said that they had not received their grant since applying earlier this year and it was still pending.
“I need the grant to assist me with my daily needs while I supplement my matric results. I also have a child that receives (a) child support grant and it can only go so far.”
On the government news website, Sassa encouraged beneficiaries to ensure that they read their Sassa notification letters.
These notifications, according to the agency, could be messages to inform beneficiaries about changes that could affect their social grants.
Sassa has since stressed the importance of ensuring that the addresses of beneficiaries are accurate so that they can receive notifications in time.
“It is the responsibility of a social grant beneficiary to notify the agency about any changes in his/her circumstances, including changes such as marital status, financial or medical situation.”
In the statement, Sassa warned that failure to co-operate during the grant review, engaging in fraudulent activity or misrepresentation that resulted in the approval of the grant, and failure to submit required documents could lead to the suspension of the social grant.
“To avoid the suspension of (the) social grant, the beneficiary must report the circumstances mentioned above as early as possible.
“In a situation where the grant was suspended, restoration of the suspended grant application must be lodged within 30 days of suspension. This restoration happens when the grant was suspended due to failure to collect for more than three consecutive months or failure to review,” the statement read.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News