SASSA beneficiaries bemoan delays as deadline for Postbank black card update looms
This week, they have been visiting designated sites to update their cards, but many have reported difficulties and delays in the process.
SASSA beneficiaries trying to update their gold payment cards to the new Postbank black cards at the Alberton Centre on 13 February 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries are left with 15 days to update their gold payment cards to the new Postbank black cards.
This week, they have been visiting designated sites to update their cards, but many have reported difficulties and delays in the process.
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The Alberton Centre, in Johannesburg’s East Rand, is one site that experienced an influx of beneficiaries rushing to update their cards on Thursday.
Some beneficiaries said they had travelled from far away because Alberton was the only centre offering help.
They argued that the updates should have been handled in the same manner as the monthly grant payments, cutting the need for lengthy queues and frustration.
"They should have done what they are doing with the grants. Elderly people first, youth second. But now you go up there to check the queues, you’ll see the queues outside here - it's nonsense."
More delays were caused by Postbank’s systems shutting down.
"There are only three laptops working there. Three laptops. They don’t plan; it's poor planning."
Despite efforts by the centre to ease the pressure, the situation remains the same, largely due to the small number of Postbank officials on site.