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Global leader in prepaid services provides solution for social relief
According to recent 2008 statistics, the total number of South African Government dependents
is 11.8 million - of which 1.4 million are represented by disabled people; 8.2 million are
represented by children and 2.2 million are represented by pensioners. The State’s social
welfare budget addresses these dependants in the form of monthly financial grants, as well
as a Social Relief of Distress Programme which provides temporary food vouchers for people
who have no other means of support. Accor Services, the leading international issuer of service
vouchers and prepaid solutions, is revolutionizing the distribution of public benefits in
South Africa through its customized Phalala Card.
Accor Services has already introduced several unique reward programmes for leading companies
based in South Africa. Now, through the Phalala Card, Government and Non-Profit Organisations
(NPOs) are able to provide a tailored solution in the delivery of social benefits to the poor.
Developed in association with Standard Bank and MasterCard, the Phalala Ticket Service Card is
designed to enhance the distribution of social grants and public benefits as it replaces food
parcels and cash. Furthermore, it is to manage and significantly reduces the opportunity for fraud.
The current voucher system that is used in the allocation of social grants results in numerous difficulties for beneficiaries:
The total amount on the voucher must be used immediately. With the Phalala card,
beneficiaries can redeem their grant at different periods over that month up to the value of the card.
Beneficiaries of the current vouchers are singled out to stand in separate queues
at stores – often queues that are very long and frustrating and humiliating to wait in.
The Phalala card, however, looks and functions like an ordinary bank card so beneficiaries
won’t be singled out or need to stand in long queues with cash or cheques at pay points.
Beneficiaries are also forced to use the full amount of the voucher at one single store.
This can be very challenging – recipients need to travel by foot or pay for a taxi to get
to the only store that accepts vouchers & then return home with the entire month’s supplies.
With the Phalala card, beneficiaries can use the card at appropriate merchants specified by
relevant welfare officers and municipalities. By using local traders, it is more convenient
for beneficiaries and also serves to uplift these communities.
Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry is an NPO caring for orphans and vulnerable children. As part of
a newly launched Phalala Card pilot project, the aim is to overcome the NPO's resource and logistical
challenges associated with transportation and storage of food parcels for families in need. The project
targets 25 families that each receives a monthly food parcel valued between R300 and R600, according to
the size of the family. Each chosen family member (foster parent) is provided with a Phalala card that
is loaded with the relevant monthly amount of the food parcel, allowing them to shop at appointed
community traders.
Says Ikageng Chief Operating Officer Tshepo Moraka "The introduction of the Phalala card has
revolutionised the effectiveness of our food donation programme. Our logistical workload has
been significantly reduced and recipients also benefit because they can now shop for what they
want, when they want at their local Spaza shop – which is within walking distance of their
homes. Money spent in the community also further benefits the community and facilitates the
creation of job opportunities."
For more information on the Phalala Ticket Service Card, click here or call 08611 ACCOR.
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