A new deadline to swap the old Sassa gold cards has brought relief to beneficiaries.
The deadline is now March 20 and not February 28.
This comes after the Departments of Social Development and Communications and Digital Technologies recently announced that the deadline to switch from the old gold cards to the new black ones has been extended.
In a joint statement, the departments said they listened to the concerns and frustrations of social grant beneficiaries, saying that they trust that this extension will provide much-needed time for recipients.
They said beneficiaries are encouraged to switch to the black Postbank card as soon as possible rather than wait until the deadline.
The departments reassured beneficiaries that grant payments would continue as usual beyond March 20.
However, they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds. To facilitate the transition, government departments are working together to increase staff capacity and expand the number of service sites across the country. Mobile offices will also be deployed to rural areas to assist beneficiaries more effectively.
The process will be monitored and updates provided to ensure swift responses to any issues.
They also emphasised that March 20 is the final date the Sassa gold cards will function, but beneficiaries can still apply for and receive the black cards after this date.
The departments are also working with community leaders and local authorities to share clear information and offer assistance where needed.
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