Over 1.9 million SASSA beneficiaries still need to swap their old gold cards for the new Postbank black cards by the 20 March deadline. This will allow beneficiaries to be able to access their grant money through the Post Office and cardless cash withdrawals at retailers.

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE

The deputy minister of communications, Mondli Gungubele, said that the migration of SASSA gold cards to black ones might not be completed by the March 20 deadline. Gungubele said this at the social development oversight committee meeting held at the Western Cape legislature. "We are trying to move at a pace where all the beneficiaries get the black card, God helping us, by the end of March, which has become impossible in our view. But we are doing our best so that by the end of March, a number of them would have gotten the black card," he said. Wendy Kaizer-Philander, who is the committee chairperson, listed the concerns and called cardholders, asking for clarity. "The committee has witnessed, with concern, the desperation and uncertainty from SASSA beneficiaries who are waiting in long queues with no clarity, trying to meet the deadline for the migration of the gold cards to Postbank black cards,' she said.

COUNTING TIME

Gungubele said they are doing their best to make sure that everyone is migrated to the new cards in two weeks. "The Department of Home Affairs system is not always functioning, and that causes delays in the swap.' Gungubele also said that plans have been made for those who won't be able to swap before the deadline. "Alternative plans have been made that between the end of March and June, the people who still have Gold cards they cannot use will still access the institution to get their money using a cardless system," said Gungubele.