The launch of the SASSA card in May 2018 brought about great changes to how the unbanked people in the country ( South Africa) see and value money.
With 26 million people accessing the SASSA grant every month according to Groudup, the issuance of the SASSA card offered so many compelling benefits to them.
Chief among these benefits which I will still explain below is the discipline and money management culture it helped instill in people, it caused a paradigm narrative shift, especially for the dwellers in the informal settlement in the country!!
If you are among the people who have collected or are about to collect your SASSA card, then I congratulate you for a seamless, stress-free journey associated with accessing your balance and being able to make use of your SASSA grants wisely and judiciously.
Follow us in this SASSA tutorial series on top places you can make use of your SASSA card and the many benefits associated with it.
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Where To Use SASSA Card
With due diligence, the team at Mamzanzi has carefully curated the following places where you can make use of your SASSA Card to make withdrawals and also to facilitate transactions.
1. Cash withdrawals at any ATMs
As far as you are within South Africa, the SASSA card can be inserted into any ATM card and you can easily withdraw your money.
The only caveat to this is that only 1 withdrawal is free in a single month, this means, that if after making the first withdrawal you still have some balance remaining, the next time you attempt to make withdrawals, there will be charges incurred.
But do not worry because the charges fall within the standard inter-banking ATM transactions and the fee does not exceed R10.
2. Cash withdrawals at Pay points
The robust financial framework and architecture in South Africa’s monetary system, compared to other African countries remains an edge.
Being able to withdraw cash from your SASSA card at any cash pay points from nearly all retailers in the country is a testament to this assertion.
You can visit any of the biggest mall in the country, check out either Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Usave, Spar, and Boxer, and withdraw cash using your SASSA card.
The good news with this model is that it is charges free i.e. you are not going to pay any banking fees, as compared to the use of an ATM!!
3. Cash withdrawal at All Post Offices
Without being ostentatious, provision is made for you to also withdraw and collect cash at any post office branch nationwide just by presenting your SASSA card.
4. Making In-Store Purchases
As advanced as South Africa is, the rate of adoption of the use of SASSA cards compared to the usual traditional debit and credit cards is amazing and it is growing at a faster pace.
One such good news is that most major retailers in the country gladly accept SASSA cards whenever you buy something and want to make a payment.
To avoid disappointment, it is recommended to shop with the major retailers ( e.g. the likes of Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Usave, Spar, and Boxer); you are confident that they will accept your SASSA card for payment purposes.
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6 Benefits of the SASSA Card
The following benefits inherent in having a SASSA card are curated below for your perusal:
Easy Access Everywhere
To me, this is the main icebreaker deal; being able to access and withdraw your grant money anywhere you are within South Africa speaks volumes.
It does not matter whether you are living in the local terrain of Limpopo to the mountainous area of Northern Cape Town, Soweto, Cape Town, or Gauteng, you can easily access your money.
In addition, one of the great benefits of having a SASSA card is that you have many channels to get your money e.g. ATM, Cash pay points, etc.
Fosters Cashless Economy
The global world or rather globalization is now a cashless-driven economy; this initiative helps reduce the burden of carrying cash around.
Having the SASSA card essentially helps facilitate the drive towards a cashless economy, saves you from the dangers of being robbed, etc.
Free Withdrawals
An average South African values free things, with the SASSA card, you get a free withdrawal from ATMS, cash pay points, etc.
The only condition to getting this free withdrawal is if you make the withdrawal once a month. I think this is a fair balance because if you request a withdrawal for the second time, that is when you will now pay fees/charges.
Proof of Address
Your SASSA card statements can serve as legitimate proof of address whenever a request is made for the latter. This is possible because with every financial transaction on your SASSA card, records are being kept and it shows on your statement.
The above are just ample benefits of having a SASSA card, I hope you find this guideline informative and helpful. Kindly leave your opinion in the comment section.
