PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE URGES SASSA TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR GOLD CARD REPLACEMENT

 By Precious Mupenzi 

• The South African Social Security Agency has been asked to extend the deadline for beneficiaries to replace their current cards with new Postbank black cards.
• The parliamentary portfolio committee on social development raised concerns that the deadline could severely impact vulnerable beneficiaries, particularly those in rural areas.
• The original deadline was set for 28 February 2025.

The portfolio committee on social development has raised concerns over the urgent need for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries to replace their gold cards with new Postbank black cards before the 28 February 2025 deadline.

The committee described the situation as a crisis, emphasising that failure to extend the deadline could severely impact vulnerable beneficiaries, particularly those in rural areas who struggle to access services.

The committee urged SASSA to extend the deadline and expand the number of service centres to ensure that all beneficiaries, including those in remote areas, can transition smoothly.

In addition, the committee gave SASSA 24-hours to provide a clear and comprehensive plan on how it intends to address the situation.

SASSA’s Acting CEO Raphaahle Ramokgopa assured the committee that close to a million beneficiaries had already transitioned to the new Postbank black cards since the replacement process began in September 2024.

She further stated that SASSA is working closely with Postbank to train officials on the new system, ensuring that more people receive assistance in making the switch.

The discussion on the SASSA gold card replacement was raised ahead of the portfolio committee’s briefing on the Central Drug Authority’s annual report and the Department of Social Development’s presentation on tracking social grants and matric success in Parliament, Cape Town, today, 12 February 2025.

Committee chairperson, Bridgette Masango, supported the committee members’ concerns, agreeing that extending the deadline and increasing service access points is essential for protecting vulnerable beneficiaries who rely on these grants for survival.