The Department of Social Development says the deadline for the Sassa card transition has been extended to March 20.
By March 20, beneficiaries will no longer be able to access their funds using their gold cards.
After the March 20 deadline, beneficiaries will still be able to apply for and receive their Postbank black cards.
In a joint statement with the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies, the department said this is an extension by almost one month, after it was previously reported that the initial date for the move from the gold Sassa card to the black Postbank card would be February 28.
Complaints
The departments came under fire following complaints from various stakeholders that this would not be enough time for beneficiaries to make the necessary arrangements.
"We strongly encourage our beneficiaries to make sure that they change to the black Postbank card as soon as they can, and well ahead of the March 20 deadline," the statement read.
The departments explained that grant payments will continue as usual, even after the March 20 deadline however if beneficiaries haven't exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds.
Mobile sites
The departments said mobile offices will be dispatched around the country so that beneficiaries will be able to swop their cards.
Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, has welcomed the announcement. He said his office has been inundated with complaints, mainly around the lack of Postbank sites in rural areas.
"As a government, we have a profound duty of care to protect our most vulnerable residents. We must demonstrate this by resolving the current crisis swiftly and with humanity," he said.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
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