All South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) card upgrades must be done at the Mhluzi branch or at the Mhluzi Shoprite, as the SASSA Middelburg offices are closed due to renovations and are only estimated to reopen in April.

With the February 28 upgrade deadline looming, many residents are urgently looking to acquire the Postbank Black Card in time for next month’s grant.

The Middelburg Observer called various stores across town to find out if they offer the upgrade, all of whom, except Mhluzi Shoprite, said that they do not.

This list includes Checkers, Pick n Pay, Boxer, and the Middelburg Shoprite. Many of the stores the paper phoned incorrectly stated that upgrades could be done at one of their counterparts, adding to the confusion.

The lack of clarity on where residents can go to upgrade their card has led to justified frustration, with the Middelburg Observer receiving numerous phone calls from distressed members of the public, angered at having been turned away from the SASSA offices on Dr Beyers Naude Street.

Reason for temporary closure

This morning, a Middelburg Observer journalist visited the site to investigate.

Upon arrival, a security guard said that SASSA was closed and asked the journalist to leave. After explaining the purpose of the visit, the security guard allowed the journalist to enter the SASSA building.

It was then explained that the SASSA offices are not being renovated, but the adjacent Department of Social Services are, but because of the ‘dust, noise, and lack of functioning toilets’, SASSA will be closed for the foreseeable future.

Social Services is still fully operational, with a skeleton crew situated in a different building on the premises, and other staff members working from home.

The redevelopments are expected to be completed in late March, but further renovations will begin on the building where Social Services currently operates.

This will continue until June, and could further delay SASSA from reopening, with the Observer being told that all services will continue at the Mhluzi office.

• You can find the Mhluzi branch at the Adelaide Tambo Hall in Extension 7.

• To read more about how this fiasco has affected people’s lives, purchase a copy of this week’s upcoming issue of the newspaper.

Do you have information on a news story you think we should cover?

Please send an email to our News Editor at daleen@mobserver.co.za or phone us on 072 248 3855.

To keep updated and informed on all the latest Middelburg news, visit our official social media pages:

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Formerly Twitter), and YouTube.