Spar helps distribute Postbank Black Cards: 'We can ensure people get serviced in a dignified environment' – SASSA
Holders of the SASSA Gold Card have until 20 March to switch to the new Postbank Black Card.
Postbank has started introducing a new Black Card for SASSA beneficiaries. Picture supplied by SASSA
CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane on Good Morning Cape Town interviews Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communication at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
Listen below:
SASSA Gold Card holders must switch to the new Postbank Black Card by 20 March 2025, as grants will no longer be paid into the old cards after this date.
Letsatsi expresses significant concern over the deadline, adding that nearly a million beneficiaries still use the Gold Card.
However, he assures that SASSA has partnered with Postbank to develop a contingency plan for those who may not meet the deadline.
"They have developed a plan, we have discussed it and we think that, so far, if we monitor it very closely and make sure that it gets implemented, we would not have a crisis, but we are definitely concerned."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communication – SASSA
Additionally, Letsatsi says that SASSA has instructed Postbank to open as many outlets as necessary, with sufficient tellers to accommodate demand.
Spar has also joined the effort, assisting with the distribution of new cards.
Letsatsi believes that expanding the number of available outlets will help alleviate long queues and ensure beneficiaries can access their grants with ease.
"We would then be able to make sure that people get serviced in a dignified environment."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communication – SASSA
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.