INACTION: Twenty years pass without redress to demands for bridge to be erected for children to able to cross over stream to school…

By Robert Tlapu

Freedom will be meaningful for the community of Emalahleni in Mpumalanga if only the government could build them a bridge to ensure the safety of especially children attending schools nearby.

Its a daily risk and a hazard for especially the young schoolchildren who  have to traverse and cross through the about 2km of a narrow and long stream which overfloods on rainy days.

For almost two decades the community of Vosman and Extension 5 have been asking the municipality to build them a bridge. There is no “alternative” road for the young learners from these communities who attend the Empuculweni secondary and the Nancy Shiba primary schools, located the other side of the stream.

Local SANCO member Amos Mnisi who grew up in the area says come Spring with all the rainfall, the stream would be overflowing forcing some of the not-so-brave learners to dump class.

Last year a person was found dead along the stream. On especially rainy days thugs await learners in the nearby bushes and would extort money from those who can’t cross or rob them of their belongings.

Over the years the crime levels along what is the Kakaspruit stream has increased and the community now refer to it as a “stream of death”.

Nozuko Poni, a Digital Campaigner at Change.Org SA says the organization offer an open platform for members of the public to start and support petitions on issues that affect their communities and the country at large.

“The range of petitions people are starting are on issues like government accountability, criminal justice (like #NoBail petitions), human rights, LGBTQI+ and many more”.

She emphasized that when an individual or organization have started the petition, their team of campaigners supports them to amplify their task and get more signatures in order to reach the decision-maker and eventually get their petition attended to.   Mnisi said they have joined hands with members of the ANC Youth league in the Hellen Ngwenya branch, decided to launch a Save Our Children Petition to hand over to the eMalahleni Mayor Connie Nkalitshana, regards the building of the much-need bridge.

The petition was launched on the Change.Org SA website and has so far collected 500 signatures and more are expected.

eMalahleni communications manager Lebo Mofokeng  told WSAM that the municipality has processes to follow in terms of budgetary issues.

Recently the Municipality engaged communities on IDP/BUDGET consultations.

“We take note of the need for that bridge and will look into it,” he said.   

SASSA BENEFICIARY’S NEW PAYMENT METHOD

NOT TO WORRY:  Expired gold cards no deterrent from getting benefits

By Robert Tlapu

The SASSA beneficiaries who their gold cards have expired, are not to worry about receiving their grants payments as the Postbank have launched a new cardless payment method which will be in effect from the month of May grants payments.

With the new initiative the beneficiaries would not have to carry their SASSA/Postbank gold cards when they go to cash their grants at participating retailers like Shoprite, Usave, Boxer, Pick n Pay and OK. Those who have their cards expired and have not yet collected the new cards, they no longer have to go and collect them, as the service no longer need the physical card to withdraw the grants.

To cash out the grants, all the beneficiaries need is the ID documents, cellphone and the SASSA/Postbank card PIN.

At the till point of the retailers, they will be asked to validate their identity and enter their cellphone number, and then enter their PIN to receive their payments.

• Bring your cellphone, ID document, SASSA/Postbank Gold Card PIN
• Go to the till-point and provide your ID and cellphone number to verify your identity as a registered grant beneficiary.
• You will receive a confirmation message on your phone (you don’t need to have airtime)
• Enter your SASSA/Postbank Gold card PIN (same one used at ATM withdrawals)
• The cashier will give you the requested amount of money.

This new payment method will be available to those who haven’t yet collected their new cards due to the expiry of their SASSA/Postbank Gold cards, or those that simply want to collect their grants without their cards.

When asked what will happen in a case a person doesn’t have a cellphone, Bongani Diako, Postbank Spokesperson responded that they will still be able to access their social grants using biometric within Post Office branches as well as the physical cash payment points.

“The cardless method is an additional alternative method that doesn’t necessarily replace the traditional payments methods. We are still going to issue all the SASSA beneficiaries with cards, therefore the cardless method in the interim serves to ensure that people with expired cards that are unable to collect new cards are paid”, pointed out Diako.

Diako concluded that the recipients of the Covid R350 grants were the first to use the cardless method of being paid through the retailers.

Meanwhile the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) released a statement that it has extended the validity of expired SASSA/Postbank Gold Cards until 31 December 2023, which means social grants recipients can still continue using their expired cards.

PASA has sent correspondence to all acquiring banks to ensure they are ready to accept expired SASSA/Postbank Gold Cards. 

Published on the 96th Edition

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