Severe shortage of sites for Sassa card transition

GEORGE NEWS - Long queues have been experienced at the two service points set up in George where Sassa social grant recipients can exchange their existing Postbank Gold Card for the new Postbank Black Card.

These two sites - at Shoprite in Van der Stel Square and Shoprite in Thembalethu Square - are among only five points made available outside of the Cape Metro to service the rest of the Western Cape.

In a joint statement by the departments of Communications and Digital Technologies and Social Development last week, they extended the deadline for the exchange from 28 February to 20 March, saying it was in response to "the deep concerns and frustrations from our social grant beneficiaries".

According to the statement, grant payments will continue as usual, even after the 20 March deadline. The grants of beneficiaries who have not exchanged their cards by then, will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest post office branch to access their funds.

Theresa Toerien, whose frail 85-year-old mother lives in Hartenbos, said it is unthinkable that there are no other service points in the Southern Cape where cards can be exchanged.

"Elderly people from other areas must travel to George. They cannot afford such a trip and many are physically just not able to undertake the journey."

Western Cape Social Development Minister Jaco Londt said his office has been inundated with complaints. "We have heard of elderly residents standing in queues from the early morning hours, only to be turned away.

"Many of our most vulnerable residents are spending money that they do not have to travel long distances to get to facilities that may or may not be able to help them."

His department has been pressuring Sassa and Postbank to address the lack of service points and staffing. "Sassa is a national entity and does not fall within the powers of the Western Cape Government," said Londt.

At the time of going to print, George Herald's query to Sassa had not received a response.

The Sassa service point in Shoprite Van der Stel Square.