Eastern Cape – Six heavily armed men allegedly robbed a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay point of an undisclosed amount of cash in Seplan near Cala .
Following the incident that happened on Tuesday when the robbers allegedly accosted the security guards, who were loading an ATM at the pay point and restrained them, SASSA Acting CEO Pearl Bengu has expressed concern.
The security guards were stripped off their semi-automatic rifles and pistol. The robbers took money and cell phones during the robbery.
SASSA said the incident came three days after an apparently different gang plundered cash about to be placed in an ATM in Cacadu (Lady Frere) that dispenses social grants money.
“We are comforted that no beneficiary was harmed during the robbery and everyone at the pay point was safe. However, we view such actions by criminals as hazardous to our beneficiaries and appeal to law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to arrest the criminals,” Bengu said.
She said after the robbery the payment process resumed without delay as CPS managed to replace the cash that was stolen by the robbers on time to ensure that no beneficiary left the pay point without receiving their grant payment.
Bengu further said that SASSA takes the safety and wellbeing of all beneficiaries as a priority at pay points and will work closely with the payment contractor to ensure that security details around these facilities are amplified so that beneficiaries are paid in secure environments at all times.
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