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Thousands of grant recipients who struggled to have their Sassa cards renewed due to the closure of multiple post offices can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Payment Association of South Africa (Pasa) announced that the validity of expired Sassa/ Postbank gold cards has been extended until the end of the year.
In a statement, Postbank spokesperson Dr Bongani Diako said social grant recipients can continue to use their expired cards at ATMs and merchant Point of Sale (Pos) withdrawals without the need to collect new cards or switch to other banks.
“Pasa has sent correspondence to all acquiring banks to ensure they are ready to accept expired Sassa (South African Social Security Agency) /Postbank Gold Cards.
“This is great news for social grant recipients, and we hope this extension brings much-needed relief to those who rely on these grants.
“Postbank is going to replace the cards before the end of December 2023 in line with the directive of the South African Reserve Bank.”
Diako added that social grants recipients will be notified when to collect new cards in line with the card replacement programme in the next few weeks.
“In the meantime, social grant recipients using the expired Sassa Postbank Gold Cards can enjoy using these cards within all the National Payments System points that include ATMs, Pos purchases as well as post office branches and Sassa physical cash payment points.”
Social grant recipients that prefer to use the recently introduced Postbank cardless method of accessing social grants via participating retailers such as Shoprite, Boxer, Pick n Pay, Usave, Checkers and OK are encouraged to do so as the alternative option is still available.
Meanwhile, Lenny Coghlan (76), a pensioner from Lotus River says it is frustrating that the Sassa payment dates keep changing, making it difficult for beneficiaries to fulfill their financial obligations.
“You can’t plan whatever you want to do with your money. I understand the public holiday (Workers’ Day) was on Monday 1 May but in the past, we were paid the following day.
“This month we had to wait until Thursday 4 May for payment.
“Every month, the date changes and as a pensioner you cannot budget. I mean, it is simply not on.
“Say for example, I must pay for electricity on the first of the month or I have an account to pay, but now I must wait and then my account is in arrears.
“If you pay late, then next month there is interest added.”
Not knowing which date to collect Sassa every month is not fair, says Coghlan.
“I am 76 and my wife is 74. You don’t want a call from your debtors that an account is in arrears. At my age these calls are very unsettling.
“I feel there should be a set date that pensioners are paid. We don’t receive any notifications either. We must always phone around to find out the date of payments.
“Originally, we were either paid on the first or the second of the month.”
He adds that as pensioners, they are wary of using ATMs for Sassa payouts.
“The bank says for example keep R50 in the bank to keep it open, but that extra R50 or R90 is needed. And in townships, people fear going to ATMs. Every time as pensioners, we draw the short end of the stick.”
