The South African Social Safety Company (SASSA) issued a last, pressing reminder to all SASSA grant beneficiaries to improve their gold playing cards to the brand new Postbank black playing cards by the tip of this month, 28 February 2025. Failure to improve will end in beneficiaries dropping entry to their SASSA grant funds. Nevertheless, the Western Cape Division of Social Growth has raised considerations after receiving quite a few queries.
Will SASSA prolong the gold card expiry deadline?
Postbank is urging beneficiaries to behave now in upgrading their playing cards to keep away from the last-minute rush. The improve is freed from cost.
All present SASSA gold playing cards will turn into invalid on 28 February 2025. That is whatever the expiry date on the cardboard. Which means even when your gold card seems to be legitimate past this date, it should not operate after the deadline.
SASSA is transitioning to a safer and environment friendly cost system, and the brand new Postbank black playing cards are a vital a part of this modernisation. They’re phasing out older playing cards to guard beneficiaries from potential fraud and to streamline the grant disbursement course of.
Nevertheless, the Western Cape Division of Social Growth has raised severe considerations.
Western Cape Division raises considerations
For the reason that announcement, the Western Cape Authorities has obtained quite a few queries and complaints from throughout the province concerning the improve.
The Western Cape Division of Social Growth tried the assorted contact particulars offered by SASSA and Postbank themselves and skilled nice difficulties.
Monique Mortlock-Malgas from the Division acknowledged that the Postbank quantity was not purposeful once they tried it. Additionally, once they dialed *120*218*3# and adopted the prompts, it gave an inventory of all of the Western Cape websites the place individuals can get their Postbank Black Playing cards. Nevertheless, most of those websites are within the Cape City Metro. She stated that that is unacceptable because it leaves 1000’s of beneficiaries with out accessible choices, particularly these in rural areas.
Beneficiaries can even have their grants paid into their financial institution accounts. Nevertheless, this selection shouldn’t be viable for a lot of beneficiaries corresponding to aged residents or these dwelling in abject poverty. Mortlock-Malgas emphasised that SASSA, Postbank, and the Nationwide Division of Social Growth should urgently discover a answer to make sure grant beneficiaries dwelling in rural areas are additionally accommodated within the card transitioning course of. She acknowledged that extra service factors are wanted and that the SASSA gold card expiry deadline must be prolonged till that occurs. She has raised these considerations with the Western Cape SASSA administration.
Are you a SASSA gold card holder? Have you ever upgraded your card?
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