SASSA urged to assist elderly, disabled with black cards
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development has called on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to scale up its education drive on the new Postbank black cards.
The Department of Social Development extended the deadline for the SASSA gold cards transition to the Postbank black cards to the 20th of March due to multiple complaints from the public.
The initial deadline was the 28th of February 2025.
A spokesperson for the committee, Faith Ndenze, said the extension alone was not enough, saying extending the deadline without an improved rollout plan would prolong beneficiaries' frustration and panic.
Ndenze added that the committee received calls and e-mails from beneficiaries and their families, who are frustrated with the lack of sites to issue the Black Cards.
“Older persons and people with disabilities are stuck in long queues and, at times, are turned away without receiving help. The scenes unfolding at the renewal sites are a violation of human rights,” said Ndenze
“The Departments of Social Development, Communication and Digital Technologies, SASSA and Postbank should ensure that the roll-out process occurs in a manner that protects the dignity of all beneficiaries.”
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