More than 1.8 million social grant beneficiaries have successfully migrated from their old SASSA gold cards to Postbank’s new black cards – with over 80% of targeted migrations completed ahead of the 31 August deadline, the state-owned bank announced on Friday.
In a statement reported by SAnews, Postbank said the migration process was progressing smoothly, with no significant challenges reported – and that beneficiaries who have already switched are enjoying the ease, convenience and enhancements of the new cards.
Banking where people already shop
A big part of the success story is location. Card replacement sites have been placed inside the retailers where beneficiaries already do their shopping – including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar stores – making it possible for people, including those in rural areas, to migrate as part of a normal shopping trip.
Provinces that initially recorded lower numbers, including the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, have all ramped up their conversion volumes this week.
Postbank Chief Commercial Officer Thami Cele said the plan remains firmly on track. “We are encouraged by the latest visible strong response from beneficiaries and the progress we have made. As a state-owned bank, our priority is always to ensure that every social grant beneficiary makes a transition to the new cards and does not experience any inconvenience,” Cele said, adding that most elderly and disability grant recipients have already completed their migrations.
Extra hours, zero cost, no forms
To help the last groups over the line – especially child support grant recipients, who make up as much as 90% of those still to migrate – Postbank is extending operating days at its card replacement sites to include Saturdays and Sundays from 09:00.
The process itself has been kept refreshingly simple:
- Migration is completely free of charge.
- Only a valid ID or temporary ID is needed – no forms required.
- Cards can be collected in any province, regardless of where the grant was registered.
- Dialling *120*355# from any cellphone locates the nearest migration site.
No one left behind
Importantly, Postbank has confirmed that beneficiaries who miss the 31 August deadline will continue receiving their social grants, with accounts remaining active, and card replacement sites staying open after the deadline to assist latecomers.
Careful planning, a broad public awareness campaign and a retail-based network have turned what could have been a stressful changeover into a story of quiet, effective service delivery – one that has already put a better banking product into the hands of 1.8 million South Africans.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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