By Palesa Legodi
In a disappointing turn of events, pensioners across the country were left without their much-needed funds as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) experienced payment delays. Today, Postbank the financial institution responsible for processing these payments issued an apology to affected pensioners, citing technical issues as the main cause of the problem.
The incident which impacted a significant number of pensioners, has left many elderly citizens struggling to fulfill their financial obligations .
The technical issues which occurred during the payment processing stage, resulted in the delayed release of pension funds. Pensioners who were expecting their payments yesterday were met with disappointment and frustration as their accounts remained empty. Millions of pensioners went home empty handed while others were left stranded as they could not receive their old age money on Tuesday. Maria Thubakgale(73) said, ” I filled my trolley with food and I was very disappointed when I had to pay and there was no money in the card. My children are unemployed and we all depend on grant money. I use this money to pay basic expenses such as food, rent and medical bills”.
Postbank in their official statement released earlier today, expressed sincere regret for the inconvenience caused to the pensioners. The financial institution acknowledges the hardship this delay has created and assures the public that all necessary steps are being taken to rectify the situation promptly. The apology from Postbank brings some relief to the affected pensioners who had anxiously awaited the arrival of their much-needed funds. However, frustration and concerns about the potential for similar issues in the future are still prevalent among the elderly community. ” The government and SASSA should take immediate action to rectify the situation. We emphasize the urgent need for better communication and solutions to support the welfare of pensioners during this challenge”, said Thubakgale.
SASSA in collaboration with Postbank is working diligently to resolve the technical issues and ensure that the delayed pension payments are processed without further delay. The relevant technical teams are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the root cause of the problem and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In the meantime, SASSA has urged pensioners who have not yet received their payments to remain patient and assured them that efforts are being made to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. They have also encouraged affected individuals to contact their local SASSA office for any necessary assistance or support.
While the issuing of an apology by Postbank demonstrates accountability and a commitment to addressing the issue, it is crucial that steps are taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Only by doing so can the necessary trust and confidence be restored among pensioners who deserve a reliable and efficient payment process for the benefits they depend on.
As pensioners anxiously await the resolution of these technical issues, they hope that appropriate measures will be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such delays, enabling them to access and utilize their rightful benefits without further disruption. Grace Sekati(65) said, “I believe this should be the last time we are experiencing a problem with SASSA pension money, the government needs to deal with this as it is a regular problem”.
