SASSA Cards to Be Discontinued in February 2025
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised serious concerns over the broken verification system of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which is currently preventing thousands of grant beneficiaries from verifying their details.
This issue comes at a critical time, as the SASSA Gold Cards are set to expire at the end of February 2025, leaving millions of vulnerable citizens uncertain about the future of their social grants.
Verification System Failure Affects Beneficiaries
Many SASSA grant recipients are in the process of verifying their personal and banking details to ensure the smooth continuation of their payments. However, reports have emerged that the SASSA verification system is temporarily down, leaving thousands of beneficiaries in limbo.
The system failure has sparked frustration and anxiety among social grant recipients who rely on these funds for their daily survival, medical expenses, and essential needs.
The DA has called upon SASSA and the Department of Social Development to urgently address these technical failures and ensure that all beneficiaries can successfully complete their verification process before the SASSA Gold Cards expire.
The party has warned that if the issue is not resolved promptly, millions of South Africans could be left without their much-needed grants, which would have devastating consequences for the most vulnerable groups in society, including the elderly, disabled individuals, and low-income families.
SASSA Gold Card Expiry Poses Major Challenges
With the expiration of SASSA Gold Cards fast approaching, beneficiaries are being encouraged to update their banking details or switch to alternative payment methods to avoid disruptions in receiving their grants.
However, due to the ongoing verification system failure, many recipients are unable to complete this process, creating further uncertainty about their financial security after February 2025.
The DA has urged SASSA to provide an immediate solution, such as extending the validity of SASSA Gold Cards or implementing a contingency plan to prevent beneficiaries from losing access to their grants.
The party has also called for transparency from SASSA regarding the verification system failure, demanding clear communication on when the system will be restored and what measures are being taken to prevent further disruptions.
Call for Urgent Action
The Democratic Alliance has emphasized that this situation is a matter of national urgency and requires immediate intervention from SASSA, the South African Postbank, and relevant government authorities. Without a functioning verification system, thousands of grant recipients may face unnecessary delays and hardships in accessing their funds, leading to widespread distress and economic strain.
The DA continues to push for accountability and swift action to ensure that all beneficiaries can complete their verification process without any further obstacles. The party has also encouraged affected individuals to report their difficulties so that appropriate measures can be taken to resolve the crisis.
With millions of South Africans dependent on SASSA grants, it is crucial that the verification system is restored without delay and that a long-term solution is put in place to prevent similar technical failures in the future. The DA remains committed to holding SASSA accountable and ensuring that no South African is left behind due to government inefficiencies.
