SPANISH-AMERICAN philosopher George Santayana’s wise words that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” provide a guiding light for officials helping South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries replace their current gold cards.

South African history is replete with examples of Sassa beneficiaries being at the receiving end of either state incompetence or sheer ignorance.

Remember the Bathabile Dlamini era when grant beneficiaries were on the verge of not getting their money?

Then came a period under the leadership of Minister Lindiwe Zulu when Sassa blamed the non-payments of grants on incorrect banking details provided by beneficiaries.

In 2023, the Postbank was forced to reverse funds to thousands of grantees after a system glitch left them without access to funds.

We list these incidents to remind those seized with implementing government initiatives relating to grant beneficiaries to be guided by the principle of avoiding a repeat of history.

However, early indications are that history is likely to repeat itself as the deadline for replacing Sassa gold cards approaches. Failure to do so by February 28 will result in rural, elderly, and disabled beneficiaries being unable to access their grants.

Beneficiaries who do not replace their cards in time will be unable to withdraw funds, make transactions, or check balances as their cards wil be deactivated.

The rush with which this decision is being implemented assumes that South Africa is a linear society. It suggests that Sassa beneficiaries do not have to travel long distances to towns to be able to access these services.

It also ignores the fact that the offices where they are to be helped are not well-equipped to handle large numbers.

It’s with this in mind that we implore Sassa, the Postbank and the Minister of Social Development to make every effort to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing incidents we have cited. Failure to do so will only confirm their uncaring nature.

Cape Times