Grant beneficiaries have until the end of this month to switch from the SASSA gold card to the new Postbank black card. Picture: File
As the deadline looms for the card switch over for grant beneficiaries, Postbank said they are ensuring that “no beneficiary is being left behind” despite challenges highlighted by the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD).
This week the Western Cape DSD highlighted challenges experienced for beneficiaries who are rushing to beat the 28 February deadline to get the new black card as SASSA announced the disposal of the gold cards for payouts.
A beneficiary who did not want to be named said endless queues at a Parow site was evident of the “disregard for the vulnerable”.
“Most beneficiaries are the aged and disabled who are now forced to have to go to limited sites to stand and wait in long queues for hours on end. I hardly have money to travel but have to come back again as I know I won’t be seen to today.
“Nobody knows the reasoning behind it. We just have to chop and change to their beck and call because we need the financial assistance. It is no way to treat the vulnerable,” the beneficiary said.
Meanwhile, earlier on Wednesday, DSD MEC Jaco Londt visited a Paarl site at a shopping centre where people can replace their cards.
Londt said: “We have heard many complaints about this particular site. On Monday there was no Postbank official to assist grant beneficiaries, and yesterday the official only arrived after 1pm. It is unacceptable that we have poor service like this when there is a 28 February deadline looming for the expiration of gold cards.
“Luckily today two Postbank officials are there and we do hope they'll be able to help as many people as possible - especially those who travelled far distances to be here. Even though SASSA and Postbank don't fall under the Western Cape Government (they are national entities), we have been trying very hard to get clarity from both entities so we may communicate to residents. We have also been inundated with queries and complaints from grant beneficiaries,” said Londt.
Postbank spokesperson, Bongani Diako, said efforts are being made to reach all beneficiaries by the deadline date with roving deployment teams being sent to various areas.
“For context, the process of replacing cards and the call on beneficiaries started last year. As you may be aware, the SASSA Gold Cards’ validity was previously extended. We can assure that everything will be done to ensure that no beneficiary is left behind, and in particular, that every beneficiary receives their grant payment.
“Postbank together with SASSA are intensifying awareness campaigns to ensure that the information on this process reaches all beneficiaries, as well as increasing sites for card replacements and deploying roving teams that move from area to area to replace cards, so that all affected beneficiaries have a black card as the cards are the most easy and convenient method of accessing their social grants,” said Diako.
This week, provincial DSD highlighted challenges following SASSA’s urgent announcement to replace their gold cards with the new black card.
DSD said the process needed a “rethink” after the Western Cape Government reportedly received numerous queries and complaints which included the Paarl site not being operational and described the situation as “disheartening”.
According to Londt, his office tried the different contact details provided in the SASSA and Postbank media statement which included the telephone numbers for SASSA and Postbank and trying the USSD code and following the prompts.
The USSD code gives users a list of sites at which to do the card switch.
“Most of these sites are in the Cape Town Metro, only two are outside of the city, in George. This is unacceptable because it leaves thousands of grant beneficiaries living in rural areas in the Western Cape without accessible options.
“We know that grants can also be paid into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, which they can access with their regular bank cards. But as we have heard time and time again from SASSA clients, such as elderly residents or those living in abject poverty, they prefer using their SASSA Gold Cards for various reasons, such as convenience. These individuals cannot be ignored,” said Londt.
Meanwhile SASSA and Postbank issued a warning against scammers advertising how to get the black card online.
“There's no website to obtain the Postbank Black Card. It is for security reasons and to ensure the card is issued to the correct beneficiary that you are requested to come in person.”
For more information on SASSA new cards contact Postbank on 0800 535 455 or SASSA on 0800 60 10 11 or dial *120*218*3# for a list of branches.
chevon.booysen@inl.co.za
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