The closest outlet for far south South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries to exchange their gold cards for black ones is the Boxer Superstore in Mitchell’s Plain. Picture: David Ritchie
South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries in the far south are facing a crisis as there are no local outlets where they can exchange their gold cards for the new black ones.
According to a list of the outlets, obtained by dialing *120*218*3# and following the prompts, the closest available outlet is the Boxer Superstore in Mitchell’s Plain, approximately 21km away.
On Friday the Echo reported that all Sassa grant beneficiaries with a gold card must replace it with a new Postbank black card by the end of the month to continue accessing their grants. It indicated that cards could be exchanged at Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Usave, and Boxer outlets (“Sassa gold card holders urged to get new black card by month end,” Echo, February 7).
Since then, the Echo has received several calls and emails from readers asking where they can get their cards as there are no outlets in the far south.
Social Development MEC Jaco Londt said most of the sites in the province where the cards could be exchanged were in the Cape Town metro and two were in George.
“This is unacceptable because it leaves thousands of grant beneficiaries living in rural areas in the Western Cape without accessible options,” he said.
He said the department tried to get clarity from Sassa and Postbank on what alternatives would be put in place, but the Postbank number was not functional as the call was dropped, and the Sassa number redirected one to WhatsApp where there was no option to enquire about the card migration process.
On Wednesday February 12, he said, the department had made contact with Sassa’s regional management which had referred it to Postbank.
The Echo emailed Sassa CEO Busisiwe Memela and head of communication Paseka Letsatsi without response, and the phone numbers listed for both of them on the Sassa website did not work. Several numbers we called to contact Postbank were also not working.