THE chaos unfolding around the replacement of Sassa cards is a reminder of how little regard is given to the country’s most vulnerable.
Pensioners and the disabled are now forced to queue at ridiculous hours, in unsafe conditions for something as basic as access to their grants.
It should never have come to this. The looming March 20 deadline was not a surprise and the government has known for months that these cards would need replacing.
Yet, we have long lines, frustrated beneficiaries and Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe admitting that there is a crisis. “Indeed, there is a crisis. It is a crisis because we identified that there seems to be no plan. If there is a plan, I have yet to see it.”
That alone should concern every South African. How does a process so important to the livelihoods of millions turn into such a disorder? Instead we have elderly citizens arriving as early at 3am, paying for transports, only to face endless queues with no guarantee they will leave with a functioning replacement card. Some have even been robbed while waiting in the long lines.
Every month, pensioners rely on these very grants to survive and yet they are the ones forced to bear the brunt of poor planning.
For years, Sassa and Postbank have been plagued by inefficiencies, but this crisis is unacceptable. Many of the grant recipients have no alternative means of financial support and should not have to fight just to access money that keeps food on their tables.
Postbank and Sassa must immediately get their house in order. Fix the queues, and make more collection points available and there should be a backup plan for those who are unable to queue. If they cannot get this right, they need to reconsider the March 20 deadline.The people who rely on these grants deserve better than this mess.
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