Problems arise as Sassa beneficiaries change their cards.  

Kwatsaduza – Some pensioners claimed they had no funds on their new cards on March 4. The senior citizens grant from Sassa was scheduled for March 4, but some pensioners received nothing.

“I went to the same place where I always withdrew my grant. To my surprise, the cashier said I had no money on my card. She advised me to go to the ATM and check my balance,” explained Joyce Magosi (74).

Magosi said her balance was R100 which was left from the previous month.

“I was not the only one who had this problem. Some pensioners I was with did not have enough money to return home. Others planned to buy electricity and groceries because they have nothing at home,” she added.

Magosi said she went home empty-handed. She swapped her old Sassa card for the new black Postbank card in January.

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She added she successfully withdrew her February grant with the new card.

The government postponed the deadline for swapping gold Sassa cards for the new black Postbank cards to March 20 after residents raised concerns about not meeting the initial deadline of February 28.

“When they told us we were swapping to Postbank, I wondered if it was a good idea. I was hopeful the transition would be smooth,” said Mogasi.

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi and Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe announced the extension in a joint statement, in February.

They assured grant payments would remain uninterrupted beyond the new deadline.

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They said they would assist beneficiaries in efficiently swapping their cards by collaborating across departments and retailers to expand support nationwide.

They also committed to dispatching mobile offices to focus on rural areas and to assist as many people as possible.

Some mobile offices were spotted in the city, including Springs Mall. The ministers assured they would monitor the process and provide regular updates to address issues.

On the March 20 deadline, the old gold Sassa cards would stop working, but beneficiaries can still apply for and receive the new black Postbank cards after this date.

Shoprite Kwa-Thema Junction can also assist Sassa beneficiaries with the card swap.