The government has postponed the deadline for social grant beneficiaries to swap their gold SASSA cards for the new black Postbank cards to March 20.

This follows concerns raised by recipients who could not meet the initial deadline of February 28.

The Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, and Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, announced the extension in a joint statement, assuring that grant payments will remain uninterrupted beyond the new deadline.

“To make sure that we can assist beneficiaries to swap their cards as efficiently as possible, our departments and entities are working together to add more human capacity and are working with retailers to increase the number of sites across the country.

“Mobile offices will also be dispatched to focus on rural areas and to ensure that we assist as many people as possible.”

The ministers assured that they will monitor the process closely and provide regular updates to address any issues that may arise.

Importantly, the March 20 deadline marks the date when the old gold SASSA cards will stop working, but beneficiaries can still apply for and receive the new black Postbank cards after this date.

They stated that they are collaborating with community leaders and local authorities to disseminate clear information and provide necessary assistance.

Emphasising that facilitating a smooth transition for beneficiaries to exchange their old gold SASSA cards is their top priority, and they will keep the public informed through regular updates.