By Sisathi Nomatye
Safety officers and sector managers have been leading patrols around South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay-points in Hammanskraal, North of Gauteng. This after a robbery which happened at the Soshanguve plaza which ended up in 13 pensioners being shot.
Pensioners are being targeted by criminals in malls, especially on the days that they are due to receive grant money. With these patrols, social crime managers aim to educate old citizens about ways to withdraw and carry cash safely without being easy targets for criminals.
SASSA grant beneficiaries are often victims because most of the pensioners still don’t know how to use their SASSA cards. This often results in them asking for help from strangers. The SASSA website also gives advice on how to keep their cards safe. To make the process easier, pensioners can also withdraw their cash from all the major supermarkets.
Safety officers have pleaded with the community to assist in ensuring that pensioners are safe when withdrawing their grant money.
