New SASSA Gold Card deadline ‘won’t be met’
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has slammed the South African Social Security Agency’s deadline to replace the SASSA/Postbank Gold Cards.
The initial deadline was set for February 28.
However, it has since been extended to 20 March.
On Wednesday, Tolashe briefed MPs on Parliament’s social development committee on the vulnerabilities in the SRD grant application and payment systems.
“The March deadline is not going to be met; there is just no way. When you look at what is happening on the ground, that deadline was not based on any facts. It’s just a deadline for the sake of having one,” Tolashe said.
Tolashe highlighted significant issues with Postbank’s system, revealing that the bank is only issuing 12 cards every 4 hours, leaving beneficiaries frustrated and scrambling as the deadline approaches.
“I’m sharing this not to exaggerate but to give the committee an accurate picture of what is happening on the ground,” she said.
She also criticised SASSA’s attempt to address the situation by providing water and chairs to beneficiaries in long queues, calling it an unsustainable solution and stressing the urgent need for a practical and effective plan for the transition to the Postbank Black Card.
According to Postbank the new black cards have enhanced security features and comply with updated banking standards.
“That plan must be a functional one, not just something written on paper because right now, I can say it’s just on paper—it has nothing to do with the reality on the ground,” she added.
February’s payment cycle is meant to be the final one using the Gold Cards.
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