Deadline to renew Sassa cards has been extended to March 20
With pensioners facing a looming deadline this past week to renew their Sassa cards, it has been announced that the deadline has been extended to March 20
This past week, Sassa beneficiaries have been scrambling to get their new Sassa cards while the deadline of February 28 was looming over them.
However, on February 14 it was announced that the deadline had been extended to March 20.
On February 14, centres like Alberton City Shopping Centre continued to experience large crowds of beneficiaries scrambling to renew their cards.
Queues grow longer as deadline looms
The Sassa card renewal process at Alberton City has become a regular sight with beneficiaries forming large queues outside the mall, waiting for their turn to transition from the old Sassa gold cards to the new Postbank black cards.
Many beneficiaries have reported waiting for hours, and some have even had to return multiple times after being turned away due to overwhelming demand.
“The process is much quicker here. I came to Alberton City because I was told it was more efficient. I couldn’t afford to waste another day in a long queue,” said one beneficiary who opted for Alberton City after being turned away from another centre.
While the process has become somewhat more efficient, the queues outside remained a significant issue.
Improved services and increased support for beneficiaries
The situation has improved slightly since Alberton Record’s last visit earlier last week.
According to the marketing manager of the centre, Lenita Cuhna, the crowd control has been more organised compared to the situation on February 13, when police intervention was needed due to disruptions in the queue.
@albertonrecord Long queues have become a common sight outside the SASSA card renewal centre at the Alberton City Shopping Centre, with many frustrated beneficiaries waiting for hours to renew their cards before the February 28 deadline.
On the day of the Alberton Record’s visit, four staff members were available to assist beneficiaries, up from just two before, and an additional 100 chairs had been added to provide seating for those waiting.
To further alleviate the discomfort of waiting, Alberton City arranged for free water and fruit for beneficiaries. They have also partnered with Wimpy, who now delivers food to those in the queue, ensuring that people can stay refreshed while they wait.
Despite these efforts, beneficiaries continue to face major challenges, with many complaining about the lack of staff and the chaotic nature of the rollout.
Some individuals have been left stranded in the queue for entire days, forced to return multiple times to complete the process.
Frustrations mount over inadequate support
Frustration is rising and running high. One beneficiary, Gerda van Niekerk, who had accompanied her elderly mother to the centre, shared her distress.
Gerda said that her mother, who is 77 years old and can’t walk without assistance, had to stand in line all day.
“We arrived at 09:00, waited until 17:00, and were told to come back the following day. It’s heartbreaking to see so many elderly and disabled people treated this way,” she said.
Many individuals have expressed concerns over the lack of prioritisation for those who face additional challenges, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with disabilities.
“I was told to go to Bedfordview or Germiston to fill out forms, but why is this necessary? It’s a huge inconvenience,” said one frustrated beneficiary.
The situation is not isolated to Alberton City alone. As the demand for the new cards grows, beneficiaries from surrounding areas such as Vaal, Bronkhorstspruit, and Roodepoort have also flocked to the mall, further increasing the pressure on the limited resources.
Staff shortage and external challenges at Postbank
The staffing issues at Postbank are a key factor contributing to the delays.
According to the marketing manager of Alberton City, Postbank is struggling with a shortage of staff, as not enough people applied for positions when the vacancies were advertised last year.
@albertonrecord The growing queues have become a regular sight outside the centre, with many waiting hours to complete their renewals. As the deadline approaches, a noticeable shift has occurred in how beneficiaries are assisted. The process has become more streamlined, with the first 60 individuals in line ushered inside the mall to complete their card renewals at a dedicated area on the upper floor, Entrance A. Previously, assistance was available at the Pick n Pay entrance, but that is no longer the case. Beneficiaries are now directed to the upper floor of the mall, where dedicated Postbank personnel help with the transition. However, the queue outside remains in place, with people lining up in the same area.
This has left fewer staff members available to assist the growing number of beneficiaries, leading to delays and longer waiting times.
Despite these challenges, many beneficiaries have opted for Alberton City due to the more streamlined process, with others reporting that they have been turned away from other centres that are overwhelmed by the demand.
Parliament responds to the growing crisis
The ongoing issues at SASSA and Postbank renewal sites have drawn attention from Parliament.
The portfolio committee on Social Development has expressed its concern over the long queues and the lack of adequate card renewal sites.
The Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Tolashe and the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi said in a joint statement the decision to extend the deadline was fuelled by the growing concerns and frustration of grant recipients.
“We strongly encourage our beneficiaries to make sure that they change to the black Postbank card as soon as possible, and well ahead of the 20 March deadline. We would like to emphasise that grant payments will continue as usual, even after the 20 March deadline.
“If beneficiaries haven’t exchanged the cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit the nearest Post Office branch to access their funds,” they said in the statement.
Beneficiaries shared their experiences with the Alberton Record
Jeeves Naicker: “I went to the Postbank in Alrode to renew my card, but they told me they don’t issue them. Why is Postbank not issuing the cards when they are the official supplier?”
Gerda van Niekerk: “Old people in wheelchairs had to stand in queues for hours, only to be told to return the next day. This is inhumane. We need Postbank and Sassa to take responsibility and help those who need it most.”
Jacques Caliez: “My father is on oxygen, and we waited all day at the centre for help. I had to arrange for another oxygen supply mid-way because the wait was so long, but even after that we were not assisted.”
P Syed: “I’ve been coming here every day this week, spending money just to get to the centre, and still haven’t been helped. This has to stop.”
Beneficiaries are advised to make use of the extended deadline and get their new cards as soon as possible and not wait until the last minute.
• Note to readers: Alberton City is only providing space in the centre to Postbank and Alberton City is not responsible for the whole process.
