The SA Social Security Agency’s (Sassa) demand that beneficiaries of R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grants use cell phones to receive their EFT payments has been denied by the Democratic Alliance (DA). Sassa encouraged R350 SRD grant applicants last week not to select the EFT payment option if they did not have cellphones. This came about as a result of complaints from beneficiaries who failed to process the EFT payments being received by its customer service section. Bridget Masango, a DA shadow minister for social development, claimed that the smartphone requirement disqualifies candidates who are less fortunate.
“The DA cautioned that conducting the application procedure entirely online would eliminate many prospective recipients who did not have access to the internet, data, or the required devices when the grant was first announced in 2020. “One must wonder if Sassa is intentionally attempting to lower recipient numbers in light of the realization that the SRD grant of R350, which is essential to millions of people, cannot be continued indefinitely without economic stimulus and growth.”
All of the beneficiaries who claimed they couldn’t handle the EFT payments, according to Sassa, had mobile phones with “little to no computing or internet capacity.” Smartphones with the necessary applications are required for such transactions when using the EFT payment method.
The agency advises recipients to pick an appropriate payment method to prevent difficulty. On Sassa’s official website, you can see all the accepted payment options. They have the option to accept payments from businesses and financial organizations that have been formally approved, according to Sassa.
