After Postbank resolved a system glitch that had left at least 600 000 social grant beneficiaries receiving only partial payments or none at all, the situation provided little relief for a Cape Town pensioner who suffered a heart attack due to stress.
Last Tuesday, Johanna Gryzenhout (61) was admitted to the Netcare Kuils River Hospital after experiencing a heart attack while waiting in a lengthy line at the Kuils River Post Office.
Also read: Seniors suffer as technical woes disrupt Sassa grant disbursements
Gryzenhout was just one of the many desperate grantees who had patiently waited in line at the Shoprite store, hoping to find the overdue deposit of her R2 090 grant after several earlier attempts in the month proved futile.
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Speaking to News24 while in hospital, Gryzenhout expressed her distress upon discovering that her grant had still not been paid: ‘I remember that morning so well. I went to the shop early hoping my money would be in. Again, it wasn’t.’
‘I felt sick to my stomach because I had relied so much on this money because I’m a chronic heart patient and needed to pay for parts of my medication that my medical aid does not cover. I haven’t been able to get my medication this month,’ she said.
Gryzenhout described feeling lightheaded before enduring sudden and severe chest pains, which her doctor attributes to a combination of heightened stress and anxiety, exacerbated by her not taking her necessary chronic medication.
‘I was rushed to hospital where I was told I was having a heart attack. I got to the hospital just in time. A few minutes later, and I don’t think I would’ve been here.’
‘All that stress and anxiety of waiting for my money to come was hurting my body. I already suffered a heart attack many years ago and didn’t think I would have another one. I’m so sad, hurt and angry that Sassa treated us elderly like this,’ said Gryzenhout.
Bongani Diako, the spokesperson for Postbank, stated that, based on their records, they have successfully disbursed all overdue Sassa grant payments on 5 and 6 September to those affected.
Diako said, ‘The process of reversing funds into all affected beneficiaries’ accounts has been completed. Many Sassa gold card beneficiaries who had outstanding payments have been able to access their money through channels that include ATMs and retailers.
‘Social grants beneficiaries that still wish to make enquiries relating to their social grants payments can contact Postbank.’
Postbank reported several cases of fraud where grant beneficiaries tried to obtain double payments from the bank.
‘Our systems are very thorough, and the people that are making these attempts will not be successful. Instead, these people are clogging the system and denying people who need genuine assistance from being helped.’
‘We condemn this behaviour, which will be reported to law enforcement agencies as it also perpetuates the incorrect notion that there are still large numbers of Sassa beneficiaries that have not been paid,’ said Diako.
Gryzenhout is expected to be released from the hospital at the end of the week. She expressed concern about not having received her Sassa funds and had not been able to purchase groceries, pay for electricity, or settle her bills since the start of the month.
Gryzenhout also mentioned that Ward Councillor Ebrahim Sawant had been made aware of her situation and had kindly offered to provide assistance with food until her funds were accessible in her account.
Sawant expressed strong disapproval of the way Sassa had handled pensioners, describing it as ‘disgraceful’.
He went on to say, ‘Thousands of our elderly people have been disrupted by the incompetence of Sassa. Many of them do not have food or medication. It’s heartbreaking to see our elderly suffer like this.’
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Regional manager of Black Sash, Evashnee Naidoo, stated that they had been providing support to beneficiaries who continued to encounter difficulties when trying to access their grants: ‘We are witnessing a significant amount of fear by beneficiaries who are visiting Sassa offices to change how they receive their grants to a commercial bank.
She added, ‘We do urge Sassa to please work with us and provide a plan with clear direction so that we allay the fears of beneficiaries.’
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Picture: Danie Franco / Unsplash