With less than a month to go before the deadline, the transition from the SASSA Gold Card to the new Postbank Black Card is facing major challenges. Postbank has now admitted that completing the process before 20 March is “impossible,” despite nearly 1.9 million beneficiaries still needing to switch their cards.
Concerns over long queues, delays in biometric verification, and limited access to services in rural areas have led to calls for an extension. However, Postbank insists that the deadline remains fixed.
The Challenges of Meeting the 20 March Deadline
During a briefing to the Western Cape legislature’s standing committee on social development, Postbank and SASSA officials acknowledged the difficulties in completing the transition. Committee chairperson Wendy Kaizer-Philander (DA) expressed concern about the distress the situation has caused among beneficiaries.
“Over the recent months, 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,” Kaizer-Philander said.
Many beneficiaries fear that failing to meet the deadline will leave them without access to their social grants.
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, confirmed that meeting the deadline is proving extremely difficult.
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“We are trying to move at a pace where all beneficiaries receive the Black Card by the end of March, but that’s become clearly impossible. We’re doing our best,” said Gungubele.
Delays Caused by Biometric Verification Issues
One of the key obstacles in the card-swapping process is biometric verification. Every beneficiary must go through a fingerprint verification process using the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) system before receiving their new Black Card.
However, the DHA system frequently experiences technical failures, causing long delays. When the system is fully functional, a card swap can take as little as three to five minutes. However, when the system is down, beneficiaries are forced to wait for extended periods.
This issue has been especially problematic in rural and under-serviced areas, where beneficiaries may have to travel long distances only to be turned away due to system failures.
Rural Communities Face Bigger Challenges
Many beneficiaries in rural areas have found it difficult to access service points where they can swap their cards. There are also complaints about the limited number of sites available to handle the high demand.
Committee members have questioned whether Postbank will extend the deadline to accommodate those who face difficulties accessing service points. However, Postbank’s chief operating officer, Eurekha Singh, has made it clear that an extension is unlikely.
“There is no intention to extend the deadline. That is not within our control, so the card replacement must be completed by 31 March. We’ve set a deadline of 20 March because we must submit evidence to the Reserve Bank that the Gold Cards are out of circulation by 31 March,” Singh explained.
Despite this, Singh reassured beneficiaries that after the deadline, they will still be able to access their grants through the Post Office and cardless cash withdrawals at certain retailers.
Learn More: SASSA Grant Card Replacement Crisis: Minister Calls Out Postbank for Lack of Preparedness
Progress and Distribution Efforts
According to Ruwaan Deokaran, who oversees the card-switching process in the Western Cape, efforts are being made to speed up the transition.
Current Statistics on the Card Swap Process
- As of the end of February, 880,266 Postbank Black Cards had been issued nationwide.
- 1.9 million beneficiaries still need to make the switch.
- In the Western Cape alone, 322,919 people still use the SASSA Gold Card.
- Only 77,932 beneficiaries in the Western Cape have received their new cards.
- 244,987 beneficiaries in the province still need to switch before the deadline.
To address the backlog, Deokaran confirmed that there are 27 distribution points currently operating in the Western Cape, with plans to increase this number to 49 service points within the next three weeks.
Extended Working Hours and Outreach Initiatives
In an effort to assist beneficiaries, Postbank and SASSA are extending working hours and increasing the number of outreach programs in rural areas.
SASSA’s acting regional manager for the Western Cape, Sibusiso Nhlangothi, confirmed that they will be hosting 26 outreach days in the following towns:
- Laingsburg
- Nelspoort
- Beaufort West
- Prince Albert
- Murraysburg
- Matjiesfontein
- Vleiland
- Leeu-Gamka
These outreach programs aim to help beneficiaries in remote areas access services without having to travel long distances.
Security and Staffing Issues Slowing the Process
Another major challenge has been security concerns at Postbank branches and service points. Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, revealed that staffing issues—mainly due to resignations over security threats—have slowed the process significantly.
“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,” Londt said.
He urged beneficiaries to consider alternative methods of receiving their grants, such as direct deposits into their personal bank accounts, to avoid the stress of the card-swapping process.
Alternative Ways to Receive Grants
Beneficiaries who are unable to switch their cards by the deadline still have alternative ways to access their grants:
- Cash withdrawals at selected retailers – Beneficiaries can use a one-time PIN to withdraw money without a card.
- Using personal bank accounts – Beneficiaries can switch to receiving their grants via EFT directly into their own bank accounts.
- Post Office transactions – Grant recipients can still access their funds at designated Post Office branches.
Will There Be an Extension?
Despite the challenges, Postbank insists that it has no plans to extend the deadline. However, due to the large number of beneficiaries still needing to swap their cards, there is increasing pressure on Postbank and SASSA to reconsider.
If the backlog remains large by mid-March, the government may be forced to implement an emergency extension to avoid a crisis where millions of beneficiaries are left without access to their grants.
For now, beneficiaries are encouraged to visit their nearest Postbank service point as soon as possible to avoid last-minute delays and potential loss of income.
