The Portfolio Committee on Social Development urges South African Social Security Agency gold card beneficiaries who could not migrate to the Postbank black card to apply to a bank of their choice to receive their social grants.
Image: David Ritchie
Grant beneficiaries who have yet to migrate from their South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) gold cards to the new black Postbank cards are encouraged to apply for a bank of their choice to receive their social grant.
The announcement, by the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, comes after a directive from the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) to the Post Bank.
"The Sarb instructed Postbank, with the guidance of Sassa, to ensure that beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to the black cards can use their gold cards and receive their grants and that there is minimal disruption while they are moving to alternative sources, such as their bank of choice," said committee chairperson, Bridget Masango.
She added that the suspension of the issuing of the Postbank black cards poses a disadvantage to the many beneficiaries who are yet to receive their cards.
"While we understand the complexities that surround this process, it is important to ensure that assurance is given to beneficiaries that there will be no disruptions in their use of the gold card and that they will receive their monies," Masango said.
She added that the committee will continue to monitor closely how this process unfolds to ensure that beneficiaries are not disadvantaged at all by the suspension of the issuing of black cards.
Sassa's Paseka Letsatsi said the Sassa gold cards still remain active and Postbank must honour all transactions on these cards.
He added that a new deadline for the termination of the Sassa gold card is expected to be issued by the Sarb soon.
"Whilst discussions are underway between Sarb and Postbank, the issuing of the black cards by Postbank at their sites across the country has been suspended indefinitely," Letsatsi explained.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
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