SASSA ups its ante to assist Postbank in the card swap drive
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Tolashe has vowed to monitor the successful implementation of the card migration from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Gold card to Postbank Black card, whilst ensuring no beneficiary is disadvantaged.
Minister Tolashe was speaking during a joint virtual Portfolio Committee meeting of Social Development and Communication and Digital Technologies on Tuesday, 18 February 2025. This urgent meeting was called by the two committee Chairpersons to allow SASSA and Postbank, the entities of Social Development and Communication and Digital Technologies Depertments respectively, to give an update on the migration progress and how they will ensure that no one is left behind.
Addressing the members of the committee, Minister Tolashe said the process to migrate SASSA beneficiaries to Postbank has been giving her sleepless nights as it directly affects SASSA beneficiaries. She emphasized that SASSA has been caught in the crossfire on decisions made by Postbank and the South African Reserve Bank. However, Minister Tolashe added that her department and SASSA could not be bystanders, as a result, intervention had to be made by her department and SASSA and endeavor to assist Postbank and our beneficiaries to ensure that they receive their grants. Minister stressed that this process is directly Postbank responsibility and unfortunately, her department and SASSA is at the receiving end and blamed for the crisis. Hence she went further to emphasise the need to strengthen the collaboration Postbank to ensure SASSA support the successful migration to beneficiaries.
“During the time of difficulty, it is not in our interest to be pointing fingers, even if we know the truth, it is for us to find solutions to the challenge at hand and rally all our stakeholders towards a sustainable solution. We also appeal to committee members to inform us when the members of the public are experiencing difficulties so that we intervene.
“It is our duty to protect our beneficiaries who are badly affected by the process of card replacement, especially the most vulnerable group, older persons and persons with disabilities,” said Minister Tolashe.
In addition, she reassured the Portfolio Committee that SASSA working with Postbank has put measures in place towards a speedy resolve to address the concerns by the public to ensure a seamless transition for all affected beneficiaries.
Addressing the Portfolio Committee, SASSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Themba Matlou outlined the measures which SASSA and Postbank agreed upon to ensure that beneficiaries are given proper assistance and that the services are rendered accordingly.
“Two SASSA employees will be assigned per site to assist with managing queues, including providing expedited services for older individuals and those who are frail. The Social Grant Payment System’s hours will be extended to allow for extended time of capturing requests of change of payment methods since most beneficiaries already approached SASSA for this. This means that the SASSA System will be operational from 6h00 until 19h30 during the week and weekends included until the month of April 2025,” explained Matlou
He assured the committee that all backlogs on Method of payment changes are to be cleared before Friday 21 February. Matlou added that SASSA will be embarking on community Outreach Programme countrywide in an effort to assist beneficiaries in rural areas.
“SASSA will be intensifying its Community Outreach programme which will target areas where there are no South African Post Office card replacement sites,” he concluded.
