I don’t usually use an ATM to draw cash, but I had reason to do so this past Friday, and as a result, I was shell shocked.

There was one ATM, and there was a man using it ahead of me. I waited patiently for him to finish his transaction, but he simply took forever. I was getting frustrated and annoyed. I could see the red screen of “SORRY …” on the ATM machine, and concluded that the man was clueless as to how to use it.

Eventually, he turned around and asked for my help. He was a black labourer, still dressed in his blue overalls and was visibly distressed. The machine would not give him any money. After deciding that it was safe to help (how sad to even have to think about this) I put in his card, he entered his password and we proceed to try an withdraw R140. As it turned out, he only had R120 available, with an additional R50 in ‘reserve’ that the bank does not make available for withdrawal.

As a result, he was getting INSUFFICENT FUNDS error. Fair enough. BUT but but !!!!
HE WAS BEING CHARGED FOR EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED!!!!!!!!

Now, to someone who has R120 in the bank, the R2 or R3 charge is A LOT. And to someone who is incurring the charge because he doesn’t understand why he cannot access all HIS money, it seems decidedly unfair. He was devastated, and I was devastated for him. I helped him withdraw his R120, gave him the missing R20 from my wallet, and he went on his way.

But I’ve been bothered by this incident all week-end. How can the working class be encouraged to save if the banks are such bastards? I employ about 10 black workers in one of my businesses, and I have long encouraged them to allow me direct deposits into their bank accounts. They balk, and now I understand why. So the result is that they get cash each week, and it is obviously difficult (impossible?) to save.

The banks should be held accountable for this. It is not just a “good feel” factor at stake, but the financial future and potential of this country. I think it is hugely serious, it affects all sorts of other things (education, or lack thereof if there are no saved funds, etc).

And actually, it does not just affect the working class of course. Adii posted recently about his bank not giving him full access to his OWN money, unless he was willing to incur a R48 fee. And only because he is a student, with a student account. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! SURELY a bank should be smart enough to recognize that if there is a student who has considerably more money (of his own) than the average student, that he should be treated extra well, instead of being charged for his success.

How are we going to put a stop to this tyranny? (I miss 20twenty.)