Sonke Gender Justice, a non-profit organisation (NPO) that stands for the rights of women, men, children and non-gender conforming individuals, has called out the Department of Social Development.
This after thousands of social grants recipients did not receive their money and could not withdraw at the ATMs.
On Thursday, the NPO said the recent non-payment highlights the department’s incompetence.
Bafana Khumalo, co-executive director at Sonke Gender Justice and co-chairperson at Global MenEngage Alliance, said the delay in payment of grants is unacceptable.
Khumalo said South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries were left stranded at automated teller machines last week after not receiving their payouts due to technical glitches caused by the Postbank.
“This is unacceptable, social grants assist the poor and vulnerable in the society, majority of which are women and children,” Khumalo said.
“The constant delays in payments causes untold harm to people who are already vulnerable.”
While the bank is responsible for payment of about 40% of grants to Sassa beneficiaries, this is reported to be the fourth time that the same glitches have occurred in a year.
“Although Postbank is reported to have resolved this system malfunction, we condemn the lack of urgency to rectify this even a year later. It is a shame that a democratic government treats the most vulnerable in society with such callous contempt.
“We are certain if such a glitch affected parliamentarians and members of cabinet the matter would have been resolved within days,” Khumalo added.
DA’s MP Bridget Masango said the government’s arrogance is on full display while poor and vulnerable grant beneficiaries have yet again spent funds they did not have only to return home empty-handed.
“We will keep a close eye on the next bout of grant payments set to take place in two weeks to see whether the Postbank’s promises that all technical issues have been solved bear out,” said Masango.
Postbank spokesperson Bongani Diako advised Sassa social grants beneficiaries using Postbank gold cards that the technical glitches that affected customers’ ability to withdraw money have been resolved for all ATM and Post Office branch transactions.
“We apologise to our valued customers for the inconvenience caused by this incident and thank them for their patience. Postbank will continue providing detailed updates,” said Diako.
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