‘Going nowhere slowly’ are Sassa grantees queuing to swap cards

Friday’s announcement of a three-week extension to the Sassa card swap deadline was welcomed by Richards Bay pensioners.

This after hundreds of Sassa beneficiaries last week endured stagnant queues over several days at Junction14 Boxer Stores in an attempt to change their gold cards to the new Postbank black cards.

The deadline to change over has been extended from 28 February to 20 March.

An advocate for senior citizens in Richards Bay, Louisia Erasmus accompanied several pensioners on Thursday to change their cards, and was disappointed that there were only two officials attending to the scores of people who had been queueing from as early as 4am.

“It is disturbing to see so many old and frail residents, as well as people with disabilities in wheelchairs and with walking aids, all waiting for hours to be attended to,” she said.

“These seniors are desperate and must endure these conditions because they are reliant on social grants for their survival. But better provision should be made by the department to ensure all people are treated with dignity.

“We spent hours there and many people left because the queue was at times not moving because the system was slow.”

A visit to the site on Friday revealed more frustration from other pensioners who had been queuing for their second day in the hopes of completing the process.

One pensioner from KwaMbonambi said he had tried to visit other supermarket outlets but was informed they could not assist him.

“In Richards Bay, the only place one can get assistance is Boxer Stores, and it is unfortunate that there are only two personnel attending to the queue for pensioners and child grants,” he said.

“There is no thought for pensioners or the mothers with babies, who must stand for hours to be attended to.

“I also visited the Sassa offices in Alton but was told only the supermarket outlets can assist.

“We no longer have a Post Office in Richards Bay. Why can there not be more points of service or mobile units?” he asked.
Better provision

Meanwhile, a joint press release by Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi and Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe on Friday announced the deadline extension.

The Department of Social Development emphasised that grant payments would continue as normal, even after the
20 March deadline.

If beneficiaries have not exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds.

The statement highlighted that the departments are working together to add more human capacity, and are working with retailers to increase the number of sites across the country.

Furthermore, the 20 March deadline marks the date when the Sassa gold cards will stop working, not the last day to apply for the new card.
After 20 March, beneficiaries will still be able to apply for and receive their Postbank black cards.

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