Helping pensioners swap SASSA cards with ease

Many elderly SASSA beneficiaries have been increasingly worried about the looming deadline to exchange their SASSA gold cards for new Postbank cards or bank cards, fearing they may not receive their March pension payments if they fail to make the change in time.

The government has since extended the deadline for the card swap from 28 February to 20 March, easing some of the anxiety. Beneficiaries have been advised to exchange their cards at Boxer, Usave, Checkers, Shoprite, and Postbank outlets, but frustrations have risen due to the limited availability of the new Postbank black cards, with the only distribution, point currently being the Shoprite West Street branch in the Durban CBD, causing accessibility issues for many.

In response to this, Ward 31 community activist Shaistah Gaffoor, in partnership with Councillor Mohammed Ismail of the Active Citizens Coalition and Radio Al Ansaar stepped in to assist pensioners in their community.

On Tuesday 25 February, they hosted a card changeover event at Al Ansaar Hall, where elderly residents could conveniently swap their old SASSA gold cards for EasyPay bank cards. This initiative aimed to ease the burden on pensioners, enabling them to receive their March grants without having to stand in long queues at stores like Boxer or Shoprite. Cllr Ismail explained that all pensioners needed for the swap were their Gold SASSA cards, ID documents, and cell phones. About 350 people were attended to.

CIIr Ismail expressed his gratitude to the Al Ansaar Foundation for providing the venue and thanked EasyPay for making the process seamless for the pensioners. By offering this alternative, the event helped alleviate the anxiety of many elderly community members, ensuring they could access their grants with less hassle and stress.

Gaffoor said that the pensioners and residents appreciated the streamlined process, noting how much quicker and easier it was. "The overwhelming response demonstrated the community's need, and we were grateful for the chance to assist the elderly," she added.

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