SASSA grant recipients given until 20 March to switch to Postbank black cards after extension
The initial deadline was marked for 28 February, however, after beneficiaries ventilated several stumbling blocks in the process, they now have until 20 March to get their affairs in order.
Postbank has started introducing a new Black Card for SASSA beneficiaries. Picture supplied by SASSA
CAPE TOWN - SASSA grant recipients have three weeks to change their current cards to the new Postbank black cards after an extension was granted for the switch-over.
The initial deadline was marked for 28 February, however, after beneficiaries ventilated several stumbling blocks in the process, they now have until 20 March to get their affairs in order.
Some obstacles highlighted include long queues and few sites available.
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According to the Western Cape social development department, just over 61,000 of 322,000 cards have been processed.
In a presentation to Parliament on Thursday, Postbank committed to opening 70 more service points in the Western Cape for recipients to utilise.
Western Cape Social Development MEC Jaco Londt welcomed the move and said they would help beneficiaries make the change.
"We will be monitoring Postbank closely in this roll-out and we expect that they do so with urgency. We do so, as has been the case since the beginning of this process, for the hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries in the province for whom these grants are a lifeline."
Londt said that he would also hold Postbank accountable for its promises and commitments.