Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Jaco Londt, met with Postbank management to discuss the ongoing migration of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Gold Cards to Postbank Black Cards, a process that has faced significant challenges as the 20 March 2025 deadline looms.
In a candid meeting, Londt raised concerns about the severe lack of Postbank service points in the Western Cape, a critical issue hindering the card replacement process.
"This is a matter I have been continuously raising since the announcement of the deadline for card replacements. The lack of service points has created a significant obstacle for our residents, particularly the most vulnerable," Londt explained.
Postbank, in an admission, acknowledged the problem, revealing that it had only become fully aware of the service point shortage through consistent news reports in the province.
"Postbank's willingness to engage with us has been encouraging," Londt said.
"We now have a better understanding of the challenges they face, with resourcing being the primary issue."
According to Postbank, there have been difficulties in retaining staff to manage the service points, especially in areas where staff have been threatened or robbed.
These challenges have led to some service points being left inactive.
"This could have been avoided with better collaboration between SASSA, Postbank, and other stakeholders," Londt pointed out.
As the deadline approaches, the Western Cape has made slower progress than expected in the card migration process.
Only 23% of beneficiaries in the province have successfully switched to Postbank Black Cards, far below the national average of 30%.
"While Postbank plans to incrementally increase the number of service points, we are concerned about the pace of this rollout," Londt said.
Postbank has confirmed that it will not extend the 20 March 2025 deadline for card replacements.
However, they have assured beneficiaries that cardless withdrawal options will be available for those who have not received their Black Cards by that date.
"Postbank has stated that beneficiaries can register for cardless withdrawals at service points," Londt explained.
He also encouraged beneficiaries to explore alternative options for receiving their grants, such as having their grants paid directly into their bank accounts, urging them to visit their nearest SASSA office to make this change.
Londt criticised Postbank’s communication efforts, calling them "ineffective," and stressed the importance of improving outreach to ensure that beneficiaries are well-informed.
"We will assist in communicating the correct information through social media and municipalities to alleviate any anxiety," he said.
Meanwhile, on 4 March 2025, Postbank and SASSA appeared before the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Social Development.
Both entities were called to account for the slow progress of the migration process and their contingency plans for ensuring beneficiaries still receive their grants after the looming deadline.
"We will continue to monitor the rollout of additional Postbank card replacement sites and ensure that no beneficiary is left behind," Londt concluded.
"Our commitment is to the residents of this province, and we will work with SASSA and Postbank wherever possible to ease the burden on our most vulnerable communities."
Weekend Argus