SASSA gold card expiration deadline arrives
Media Release by Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt
From 20 March SASSA Gold Cards are obsolete, but we urge grant beneficiaries not to panic and for the responsible national entities to work harder than ever before.
We have worked hard to establish working relationships with both national entities, SASSA and Postbank, and although it still has its challenges, we remain committed to work together as far as possible to ensure all beneficiaries are able to complete the migration process.
We thus want to assist in getting the necessary information out there for all Western Cape grant beneficiaries who still possess a Gold Card.
According to SASSA, about 102 000 people have switched to Postbank Black Cards, while over 44 000 have changed to banks. More than 174 000 people still have Gold Cards.
Postbank says you have until the end of June to switch over to their Black Cards. Alternatively, you can withdraw your grant money at a Post Office by taking your ID and cellphone.
We also encourage people to consider going to their bank and local SASSA office to change their payment method and have their grants paid into their bank accounts. Public representatives, banks, civil society, and even retailers have been doing a tremendous job of helping beneficiaries open their own bank accounts and submit forms to SASSA. These outreaches must continue, so that all beneficiaries are able to access their grants with the next payment cycle.
Meanwhile Postbank says from 20 March it will be increasing the service points for card migration in the Western Cape. This is the latest information we received from Postbank:
Active sites:
Site 1: Pick n Pay Parow
Site 2: Shoprite Parow
Site 3: Boxer Philipi
Site 4: USave Bellville
Site 5: Shoprite Bayside Mall
Site 6: Shoprite Thembalethu (George)
Site 7: Shoprite Eeseteriver
Site 8: Shoprite Gugulethu
Site 9: Shoprite Khayelitsha
Site 10: Shoprite Vredenburg
Site 11: Shoprite Strand
Site 12: Shoprite Adderley
Site 13: Boxer Mitchell’s Plain
Site 14: Shoprite George
Site 15: Pick n Pay Paarl
Site 16: Pick n Pay Vangate
Site 17: Pick n Pay Mitchells plain
Site 18: Shoprite Worcestor
Site 19: Usave (Caledon)
Site 20: Pick n Pay Beaufort West
Site 21: Shoprite Oudsthroon
Site 22: Shoprite Vredendal
Site 23: Usave Prince Albert
Site 24: Usave Swellendam
Site 26: Roving team 1
Site 27: Roving team 2
Sites expected to go live from 20 March:
28. Spar Khayelitsha
29. Spar Hilltop
30. Spar Saldanha
31. Spar Langebaan
32. Spar Vredendaal
33. Spar Eesterriver
34. Spar Clanwilliam
35. SUPER Spar Zevenwacht
36. SPAR Cape Station
37. SPAR Wynberg
38. SUPER Spar Gugulethu
39. SUPER Spar Vangate
40. SaveMor Worcester
41. SUPER Belhar
42. SaveMor Marina.
Postbank has also told us it will be prioritising the USave in St Helena Bay, and the Overberg and Garden Route regions. They have also communicated to us that they are planning outreaches in Grabouw and Hermanus next week. We will communicate the details of these outreaches and where the roving teams will be on social media, as the information becomes available from Postbank. We will also monitor the activities to ensure that they stick to their commitments.
We have visited a few sites to see the situation on the ground. At some sites, like Vredenburg, we picked up issues that are centered around poor communication from SASSA and Postbank, which led to unpleasant situations for the hundreds of beneficiaries who stood in sweltering heat waiting to be helped. We have raised these issues with both entities.
At other sites such as at Bayside Mall we have seen wonderful collaboration between Postbank and SASSA staff, the retailer, and center management to make the process a smoother one for beneficiaries. Although the lines here were also long, at least order has been established and a system worked out. Thank you to the officials here for treating residents with the dignity and respect they deserve.
We hope to see and hear more cases like these as the card migration process continues. We will continue trying to work with Postbank and SASSA, to assist wherever possible so that more beneficiaries are assisted.
We also ask beneficiaries who are able to, not to wait to change their payment method or change to the Postbank Black Card.