The technical glitch on Postbank’s payment system left thousands of social grant beneficiaries across the country without their social grant payouts last week. The glitch prevented a significant number of beneficiaries from accessing their SASSA funds for the month of September, leaving many frustrated and unable to avoid their basic needs for about a week.
The Technical Glitch, Explained
Beneficiaries using the Postbank-SASSA gold card could not make withdrawals or initiate transactions at ATMs and various retailers other than the Postbank Point Of Sale (POS), despite the state agency having made payments for the beneficiaries’ accounts.
Members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development were told that the “system glitch” was caused by software Postbank uses to pay grants.
More than a week after the “glitch” many beneficiaries were still struggling to get their money, with some people having to take loans to buy food and cover essential household expenses.
While Postbank is at the face of all of the issues, the responsibility lies with the Department of Social Development (DSD) who has the obligation to protect and fulfil the rights to social assistance.
There is a constitutional obligation to provide social assistance and so it falls on the Department of Social Development to ensure that social assistance is enjoyed by beneficiaries.
While the technical glitches have been resolved, the backlogs caused further delays, as many SASSA beneficiaries complained that they were still unable to access their grants on Friday, specifically pensioners.
Why Beneficiaries Are Switching To Shoprite Money Accounts
Since the technical glitch occurred, at least 100 000 beneficiaries made the switch from Postbank to Shoprite's Money Market Accounts, says the Shoprite group.
Jean Olivier, general manager at Shoprite's Financial Service Division, says the stores and accounts are ready for customers to switch over and begin receive their grant into their Money Market accounts.
We want to see our customers get paid on time and give them the choice to collect their money in the manner that they choose to do so. What we've done is create a free bank account, compared to most of our competitors [who] charge a small monthly fee.
"So our account, is free and we only charge a small withdrawal fee when you withdraw the money, but there you can also make your bill payments, and data, electricity or from the convenience of your phone or you can come to the store to withdraw your money, or pay for your goods and services."
How To Switch To A Shoprite Money Account
Step 1: Register For A Shoprite Money Account
Registration for a Shoprite money account can be done using four different methods. Grant beneficiaries can register by:
- Dial *120*3534# OR
- WhatsApp 087 240 5709 OR
- visit the in-store Money Market counter OR
- Download the Shoprite app
Step 2: Sign in and download your Bank Confirmation Letter.
Step 3: Download a SASSA consent form here or collect one at the Money Market counter in any Shoprite or Checkers supermarket.
Benefits Of A Shoprite Money Account
The Shoprite Money Account is the lowest-cost transactional bank account in South Africa. The account has no monthly fees. However, grant beneficiaries will be charged R5 for every withdrawal they make from the account.
Grant beneficiaries are not charged any fees when they send money, buy airtime, data, and electricity, send grocery vouchers, pay bills or pay for groceries from their phones.
Grant recipients will get up to R100 in Shoprite vouchers when their first SASSA grant of R800 or more, is paid into their Money Market Account.
