By Staff Reporter
The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has urged SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold card beneficiaries who could not migrate to the Postbank black card, to apply to a bank of their choice to receive their social grants.
The committee said in a statement it was aware that changes made to the SASSA card migration process had negatively impacted beneficiaries who have not yet received their Postbank black cards.
These changes included the indefinite suspension of issuing of black cards by Postbank on its sites due to instructions from the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) to the Post Bank.
The central bank instructed Postbank, with the guidance of SASSA, to ensure that beneficiaries can still use their gold cards to receive their grants, and that there is minimal disruption while they move to other banks.
“The suspension of the issuing of the Postbank black cards poses a disadvantage to the many beneficiaries who are yet to receive their cards.
“While we understand the complexities that surround this process, it is important to ensure that assurance is given to beneficiaries that there will be no disruptions in their use of the gold card and that they will receive their monies,” committee chairperson Bridget Masango said.
She said the committee would monitor the situation closely to ensure that beneficiaries were not disadvantaged.
While discussions are underway between the Post Bank and SARB, a new deadline for the discontinuation of the gold cards is expected to be announced.
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