Calls to replace Sassa cards continue
The old Sassa gold cards would function as normal until May 31.
The replacement of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) gold cards was recently extended to May 31.
Postbank CEO Nikki Mbangashe recently announced that the deadline had been extended again to further assist beneficiaries who had not yet switched to the black cards.
“In discussions with stakeholders involved in the matter, we’ve all had concerns, and a consistent question was what would happen to people who had not replaced their cards by March 20. Hopefully, this provides reprieve to those people,” she said.
This comes after weeks of chaos as Postbank, the state-owned bank through which Sassa pays 2.9 million grant beneficiaries, scrambled to switch clients to the new black card before the deadline on March 20. By the deadline, only 1.3 million people had switched to the new card.
Sassa’s acting CEO, Themba Matlou, welcomed the decision to extend the validity of the gold card but urged beneficiaries not to delay switching to the Postbank black card.
“We humbly urge our beneficiaries to use this opportunity and not wait for the eleventh hour, as this will further inconvenience them. From the onset, we listened to the cries of our beneficiaries and understood their frustration. This should not make you relax; this should make you wake up tomorrow with less pressure and change your card,” said Matlou.
Meanwhile, Mbangashe reassured beneficiaries that the gold card would function as usual until the new deadline.
However, she stressed that cardholders should not go to post offices for grant payments unless they are asylum seekers, Mzansi Flexi Card users, or have lost their cards.
Mbangashe said Postbank has over 300 card replacement sites nationwide.
To switch, beneficiaries need their ID or a temporary ID document and must go to their nearest site.
Mbangashe said they are still working with selected retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar.
Beneficiaries can dial *120*355# on their cell phone to find a card replacement site close to them.
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