As the deadline looms for social grant beneficiaries to migrate to the Postbank black cards, the MEC of Social Development Jaco Londt says his Department will do everything possible to ensure no beneficiary is left behind.
Londt met with Postbank on Monday to discuss the lack of service points and adequate communication in the province. This as Postbank has committed to make many more service points available in the Western Cape.
READ: Postbank to increase WC service points for SASSA card replacements
Londt says his Department will share the locations of these additional service points on social media, as they become available.
“We are pleased with Postbank’s willingness to engage with us, and we now have a better understanding of the problems they face, the biggest of which is resourcing. Postbank says it has had trouble in retaining staff to work the service points. There have also been challenges around staff being threatened or robbed in certain areas, which resulted in them resigning and leaving those sites inactive. We made it clear that many of these problems could have been prevented if there had been collaboration between SASSA, Postbank, and other role-players.”
The Western Cape is lagging behind – with the average number of beneficiaries who have managed to migrate to the Postbank Black Cards standing at 23% (74 470 cards have been replaced, 248 449 cards have yet to be replaced), while the national average is 30%.
Londt says Postbank will need to step up its communication with beneficiaries considerably.
“We will assist where we can because our commitment is to the residents, especially the most vulnerable, of this province. Even though SASSA and Postbank are national entities and do not fall under the mandate of the Western Cape Government, we will take hands wherever possible to ensure the correct information gets out to the public to ease anxiety and concerns.”
Meanwhile, Postbank has said it cannot extend the 20 March 2025 deadline, but there will be cardless withdrawal options available for beneficiaries who did not receive their Black Cards by that date:
Londt has also encouraged beneficiaries to look at all available options for receiving grant payments, such as having grants paid into their bank accounts.
“If this option is more feasible, I will advise them to go to their nearest SASSA office to make this change.”
He concludes that his Department will continue working with SASSA and Postbank to ensure no beneficiary is left behind.
