Deaths, Cover-Ups and Bribes at Zimbabwe’s Lawless Redwing Mine
Thousands of artisanal gold miners toil in the dirt in a mine controlled by political elites
Letter
Western Cape Prisons Are Arsenals for Organised Crime
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken decisive action by formally writing to the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), urging urgent intervention in terms of its constitutional mandate. A reply to a parliamentary question has exposed that 3,875 weapons were discovered and confiscated in Western Cape prisons over a 12-month period. These weapons …
Lekwa’s 12 Year Water Shut-off
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has opened a national Human Rights Commission complaint over a shocking 12 year water shut-off in parts of the Lekwa Municipality, to fight for this community which has been abandoned by the ANC. The community of ward 5 which includes Palama, Mapheshini and kaMqhewane have been without water for …
R100 Billion Transformation Fund: Growth V Cronyism
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the publication of the Draft Transformation Fund Concept Document by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau yesterday. Minister Tau has invited public comment within 30 working days, until 7th May 2025. We will study the document in detail and submit a robust critique, together with recommendations for …
BCM’s Half Billion-Rand Electricity Infrastructure Crisis
Dear Editor The ANC-led Buffalo City Municipality continues to fail its residents through shocking neglect of critical maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement of electricity infrastructure. The metro also fails to provide enough staff and vehicles to conduct service delivery and ultimately adds to harsh living conditions and a local economic decline. In a reply to questions …
Urgently Needed: Immediate Review of State-Funded Legal Support for Magistrate’s Protection Order Against Journalists
Dear Editor In a shocking display of state overreach and misuse of public resources, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development employed an advocate at taxpayers’ expense to assist Magistrate Ezra Morrison in securing an interim protection order against journalists – a process usually aimed at assisting victims of domestic violence and harassment. This revelation, …
Motorists Urged to Adhere to Speed Limits Ahead of the Long Weekend
During 10 to 16 March, Western Cape law enforcement officers issued 200 speeding fines across the province, with the highest recorded speed reaching 160km/h in a 120km/h zone. Excessive speeding continues to be one of the most significant contributors to road crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The Western Cape Government urges all motorists to prioritise road …
Emergency Loadshedding Shows That We Can’t Wait Another Minute for a Competitive Energy Market
Dear Editor The DA sees last night’s unannounced return of Loadshedding as an emergency act, that will bring more economic devastation and left leave families across our country in turmoil. The DA shares in the outrage of all South Africans at this bout of Loadshedding with zero notice. We stand together in outrage. This shows …
The MTDP Is Just a First Step
Dear Editor The MTDP, as tabled today in the Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Portfolio Committee in Parliament, is a good first step in developing a GNU growth and jobs agenda. Of course, it is the product of much discussion and considerable compromise between the parties in the GNU. That is as it should be, given …
Urgent Action Needed to Address Municipal Failures That Lead to Water Crises
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about the collapse of water management in Gauteng as a result of municipal failure, political mismanagement, and cadre deployment. Rand Water’s latest report confirms that 47% of all treated water is lost due to leaks, poor maintenance, and neglected infrastructure. This is a direct result of …
Big Concern Over Staggering Drug Smuggling in Western Cape Prisons
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice, to call Minister Pieter Groenewald to answer urgent questions about staggering drug smuggling in our correctional facilities. A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that in the past 12 months 175 kilograms of dagga …
We Request an Urgent Overhaul of South Africa’s Foreign Policy
Dear Editor In light of increased tensions between the United States of America and South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for a formal review of foreign policy at the cabinet level. This includes the adoption of a consensus-based approach to the appointment of Ambassadors. The ANC, a 39% party, no longer enjoy an …
The Fight Against Cadre Deployment Advances
Dear Editor The fight to end and abolish ANC Cadre Deployment took a step forward today as the National Assembly debated and adopted the Public Service Commission Bill, which will make the Commission far more independent of any political influence. The National Assembly debated the Second Reading of the Bill today, after the Bill passed …
Only One Million Grantees Have So Far Switched to Postbank’s New Card
Postbank says it’s issuing over 30,000 per day to get as many people swapped before the 20 March deadline
Motsoaledi’s Regulations Will Kill 1 800 Businesses
Dear Editor The DA strongly opposes Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to ban cannabis-based foodstuffs, citing both the negative public policy implications and the significant economic harm this decision could inflict on South Africa’s growing hemp and cannabis industries. The global hempseed market, valued at over USD 5 billion in 2023, is expected to double by …
Fancy Being a Mayor?
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance has opened the first round of applications for candidates wishing to apply to be considered to stand as Mayoral Candidates, in the upcoming Local Government Election, in the following four Metros: The City of Johannesburg The City of Ekurhuleni The City of Tshwane Mangaung Applicants can apply at the following …
The Disastrous Musina-Makhado Economic Zone
Dear Editor The DA is calling for the calamitous Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) industrial mega-development plan to be replaced with alternatives that are more in line with the natural assets and local context of the Vhembe region. These alternatives include expanded ecotourism, carbon markets, bioprospecting, agriculture, agro-processing, and game farming. The proximity to the …
Home visits for incapacitated SASSA beneficiaries underway
Home visits for incapacitated SASSA beneficiaries underway
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and Postbank have announced that a home visits program is underway for bedridden SASSA beneficiaries to replace their SASSA Gold Cards with Postbank Black Cards.
Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe announced this during a join media briefing by Postbank and SASSA on Monday in Pretoria.
Through the home visits program, SASSA and Postbank teams attend to beneficiaries from their places of residence, such as residential homes and nursing homes, and provide them grant access enabling services.
“We advise social grant beneficiaries and the public to be fully aware that home visits are available only for qualifying beneficiaries, and every request will be assessed on its merits applying strict criteria,” the CEO said.
The minimum criteria for a home visit request are as follows:
▪ Illness that may be considered to have rendered the beneficiary incapacitated in movements;
▪ People with incapacitating disability.
Beneficiaries are reminded that a note from a medical doctor, a social services worker official or a clinic’s medical report confirming the illness and complete incapacitation must accompany the request.
Bookings for home visits need to be made beforehand and they can be made directly through SASSA at any SASSA local offices, or telephonically through the SASSA Customer Care Centre on 0800 60 10 11 or the Postbank Call Centre on 0800 53 54 55.
Bookings for home visits can be made by a beneficiary directly or a person close to the beneficiary in terms of their movement and support. This person need not have any family relations with the beneficiary.
A beneficiary’s ID number, residential details and contact details will be required, and the beneficiary’s ID number shall be used as a reference number for any follow up enquiries.
“The home visits will be used to enable the beneficiaries to nominate a trusted individual to give authority over their account by signing a Postbank Account Access Authority letter.
“Postbank and SASSA plead with grant beneficiaries and the public that they must make home visits requests only where it is genuinely necessary, and the beneficiary meets the set criteria. To prevent abuse of the home visits system, any home visit requests for unqualifying beneficiaries will attract a R250 fine,” the CEO said.
The CEO urged beneficiaries to be on guard and not misled.
“We would like to warn beneficiaries not to be duped into changing banks without their [full understanding]. The only replacement bank for the gold card to the black card is Postbank.
“Only Postbank is running this process of swapping the SASSA gold card. Please be careful not to allow other people to confuse you to change banks without your consent,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Mon, 03/17/2025 - 14:50
174 views
Very Dodgy R360 Million SAPS Tender
Dear Editor The awarding of a R360 million SAPS health services tender to Medicare24 Tswane in June 2024 raises significant questions, particularly surrounding the involvement of former SAPS official, Petunia Lenono. Lenono, who was a member of the bid evaluation committee that recommended the award of the tender to Medicare24, resigned from the SAPS no …
Transforming South Africa’s Economy Through Enterprise – Mat Cuthbert MP
Please see the below speech by Mat Cuthbert MP during yesterday’s DA-sponsored debate in Parliament: House Chairperson, Since the introduction of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBB-EE) Act in 2003, the political elite have become more affluent, whilst the vast majority of black South Africans remain trapped in dire poverty. During the same period, growth …
Transforming South Africa’s Economy Through Enterprise – Andrew Whitfield MP
The below speech by Andrew Whitfield MP during yesterday’s DA-sponsored debate in Parliament: Chairperson, Honourable Members, In the 2024 national and provincial elections the people of South Africa sent us a message, loud and clear. That message was that the country was moving in the wrong direction and that it was time for change. The …
Transforming South Africa’s Economy Through Enterprise – Toby Chance MP
The below speech was delivered by Toby Chance MP in yesterday’s DA-sponsored debate in Parliament: House Chairperson. In two successive mini-plenaries the DA has had an opportunity to present our policies for stimulating growth and creating jobs. Last Friday our finance team focused on fiscal and macroeconomic levers and measures to fast-track reforms in infrastructure …
Municipal Roundtable Sessions on Road Safety
Earlier this week, the Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku concluded a series of municipal roundtable sessions focused on addressing critical road safety issues affecting road users across the province. The sessions, were aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts between municipalities, traffic authorities, and other key stakeholders and bought together local government representatives, law enforcement …
EU Investment and Strategic Partnership With South Africa Welcomed
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement made at the EU-South Africa Summit in Cape Town, where President Ursula von der Leyen and President António Costa reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with South Africa. The DA further extends its gratitude to the EU for the generous €4.7 billion Global Gateway …