SASSA is now warning beneficiaries to be careful about buying SASSA cards. Vulnerable individuals who are desperate for an income of any kind are very often taken advantage in this way.
The agency reminded beneficiaries that SASSA cards will never be on sale and said:
It is also a criminal offence to sell SASSA cards and any person who is found selling these cards will face the full might of the law.
SASSA posted the following image which showed an advertisement of SASSA cards for sale:
SASSA emphasised that this message is fake and does not come from them.
SASSA has an anti-fraud strategy to crack down on criminals and anyone trying to take advantage of beneficiaries.
SASSA CEO, Totsie Memela said as part of the anti-fraud strategy, SASSA is working with the justice system to crack down on attempts of fraud and theft.
"We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and will stop at nothing to root it out at first sight, so criminals, be warned," said Memela.
SASSA was created in 2005 to distribute social grants on behalf of the Department of Social Development. This was done to improve the standards of living in the country and are given to people who are vulnerable to poverty and/or in need of support from the government.
SASSA distributes the Care Dependency Grant, Child Support Grant, Disability Grant, Foster Child Grant, Old Persons Grant, War Veteran's Grant, Grant-In-Aid and the ever popular Social Relief Of Distress Grant.
The funds from these grants are loaded on a SASSA card which beneficiaries then use to withdraw their monthly payments.
Members of the public are encouraged to report cases of corruption to the anti-corruption hotline on 0800 43 43 73.
#FakeNewsAlert: This message is fake and does NOT come from SASSA. It is also a criminal offence to sell SASSA cards and any person who is found selling these cards will face the full might of the law. #SASSACARES @The_DSD @nda_rsa @PostofficeSa @GovernmentZA @GCISMedia pic.twitter.com/OfPKjl7HhU
— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) March 24, 2021
