Sassa is broken

My mom receives an old age pension from Sassa. Or should I say she used to! In December when we tried to draw her pension at an ATM with her gold Sassa card it showed no funds available.

I waited a few days and asked around and then tried half way through the month and the money was miraculously in.

Then in January the same thing happened, only this time the money has yet to arrive. February, no money and March also no money.

I have taken my mom – who is extremely challenged by poor mobility – to the Sassa office three times.

Eventually we were advised to change the payment method to one where the money is paid directly into her bank account.

This was not as simple as it sounds but I am now assured that it is done. It remains to be seen if they will pay the three months that are missing along with the April payment!

Luckily for my mom, I have been able to feed her and house her but what about pensioners who rely on this money for food and rent?

How is it possible that this system can be so broken that it abandons the very people it is meant to benefit?