Black Sash raises alarm on Postbank card replacement struggles
Black Sash has spoken out on the difficulties SASSA beneficiaries are having replacing their gold cards.
Queues for social grants in Kuyasa, Cape Town. Beneficiaries of the Social Relief of Distress Grant are struggling with identity verification processes. Picture: Mary-Anne Gontsana/GroundUp
John Perlman speaks with KZN Regional Manager at Black Sash, Evashnee Naidu.
Listen below:
SASSA beneficiaries have until 28 February 2025 to replace their gold cards with Postbank Black cards.
Replacing the card was supposed to be a free and easy process, but this is not the reality for many people on the ground.
According to Black Sash, the Postbank card replacement sites do not always reflect where the beneficiaries live.
This means they have to wait until payday to go to a site, but many have faced technical glitches when trying to go on these days.
“If you are asking them to come back in the March payment cycle because they failed to do it in the February cycle, this makes them fall foul of the deadline.”
- Evashnee Naidu, KZN Regional Manager at Black Sash
In addition to this, some of the sites listed online do not exist - and some retailers were not even aware that they were supposed to be stocking replacement cards.
RELATED: SASSA Gold Cards expire in February. Here’s how to replace yours...
Some of those who have received replacement cards have struggled with short payments.
Black Sash is demanding a clear action plan from SASSA and insists gold cards must remain active until there is a smooth transition.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.