The deadline for South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries to have their gold cards replaced with the new black cards has been extended from the end of February until Thursday March 20.

Last week, the Echo reported that gold card holders had to replace their cards by month end to receive their grants (“Sassa gold card holders urged to get new cards by month end,” Echo, February 7).

However, it was discovered that there are no outlets in the far south where beneficiaries could exchange their cards. The nearest point of exchange is the Boxer Superstore in Mitchell’s Plain, which is 21km away (“Far South pensioners must go to Mitchell’s Plain for cards,” Echo, February 12).

Social Development MEC Jaco Londt said the department welcomed the extension by the national departments of Social Development and Communications and Digital Technologies.

He said his office had been inundated with queries and complaints from Sassa grant beneficiaries across the Western Cape, and many of the complaints had been around the lack of Postbank sites in rural areas.

“It is unacceptable that the majority of service points in the province are in the Cape metro, with only a few in George, Vredenburg, and Caledon, although reports indicate that the sites in Vredenburg and Caledon do not seem to be operational,” he said, adding that those sites needed to be adequately staffed to deal with the influx of beneficiaries.

He said the department had been pressuring Sassa and Postbank to address the flaws such as the lack of service points and adequate staffing.

“This is still a huge concern, as we cannot leave vulnerable residents living in rural areas behind in this process,” he said

He said that, apparently, mobile offices would be dispatched to service rural areas, but there would need to be clear and adequate communication on where and when those mobile units would be in the areas.

“Our office can assist in communicating this schedule to ensure no resident is left behind in this process,” he said.

A general manager in Sassa’s grants administration, who is not authorised to speak to the media, told the Echo that the outlets, where beneficiaries can exchange their cards, were the responsibility of Postbank and that Sassa was awaiting further communication from Postbank.

Several posts on social media indicated that cards could be exchanged at Checkers in Meadowridge. However, ward councillor Izabel Sherry called the store and was told that the store was waiting for Postbank agents to arrive with the cards.

The Echo called the store on Friday February 14 and was told that it would not be exchanging cards at all and referred the Echo to Postbank.

Postbank could not be reached for comment.

The current outlets in Cape Town where beneficiaries can replace their cards are Boxer Langa, Boxer Philippi, Boxer Mitchell’s Plain, Checkers Hyper Parow, Usave Bellville, Shoprite Bayside Mall, Shoprite Eerste River, Shoprite Khayelitsha CBD, Shoprite Gugulethu, and Shoprite Adderley Street.