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- A Cape Town pensioner has been hospitalised due to the stress of not receiving her pension money, and she says she has still not been paid.
- Postbank says that according to its records, all Sassa grant recipients impacted by the system "glitch" have been paid.
- At least 600 000 recipients either received only a portion of their grants or no money.
While Postbank had fixed a system glitch that left at least 600 000 social grant recipients with only a portion of their money or no money at all, it was cold comfort for a Cape Town pensioner who had a heart attack due to stress.
Johanna Gryzenhout, 61, was hospitalised following a heart attack while standing in a long queue at the Kuils River Post Office last week Tuesday.
Gryzenhout was one of many desperate grant recipients who had stood at the local Shoprite store, hoping that she would find that her R2 090 grant had been deposited - after several previous attempts at checking to see if it was in her account.
Speaking to News24 from her bed at Netcare Kuils River Hospital bed, the pensioner said she panicked when she discovered that her money 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," she said.
"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," said Gryzenhout.
READ | Grants crisis: Zulu says Postbank 'failures threaten lives', DA calls for Sassa to use private banks
She said as she left the queue, she became dizzy and experienced a rush of pain in her chest. She said the pain was so severe she thought she would pass out.
"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," an emotional Gryzenhout said.
Her doctors said her condition was brought on by "lots of stress and anxiety" coupled with her not being able to take her medication.
"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.
Postbank spokesperson Bongani Diako said that, according to its records, all outstanding Sassa grant payments had been made to recipients who were impacted by the system "glitch" of 5 and 6 September.
"The process of reversing funds into all affected beneficiaries’ accounts has been completed. Many Sassa gold card beneficiaries that had outstanding payments have been able to access their money through channels that include ATMs and retailers," said Diako.
"Social grants beneficiaries that still wish to make enquiries relating to their social grants payments can contact Postbank."
Postbank said they had encountered incidents where some people attempted to defraud the bank, hoping they would receive double payments.
"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 was recovering in hospital and said she would be discharged by the end of the week.
READ | Here’s what caused the social grant payment 'glitch'
"I have yet to receive my money. I hope and pray that my Sassa money will be ready to collect once I leave the hospital. I'm a pensioner, and I only rely on this money.
"I haven't bought food and electricity or paid my bills since the beginning of the month," she said.
Gryzenhout said that ward councillor Ebrahim Sawant had heard about her ordeal and offered to assist her with food until her money was in her account.
Gryzenhout said:
Sawant said how Sassa had treated pensioners was "disgraceful".
"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," Stawant said.
Black Sash regional manager, Evashnee Naidoo, said they had been assisting beneficiaries who still had issues accessing 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."
"We do urge Sassa to please work with us and provide a plan with clear direction so that we allay the fears of beneficiaries," said Naidoo.
