Pensioners camp in a lengthy SASSA queue in Wynberg. Picture: Tracey Adams
Cape Town - More than 1 000 elderly persons queued since 3am outside the Wynberg SASSA office on Thursday in a bid to have their names recorded for the transition from the gold card to the black Postbank card, some close to the age of 90 years old.
For 85-year-old Sheila Adams, dizzy spells and tiredness was what she had to endure standing in the queue for hours.
“I think what us elderly people must go through is not a nice thing,” she said.
“People came here and did not prepare to bring a chair and began sitting on the pavements and I am also not feeling well, I feel dizzy after standing for so long.
“I have been here since 6.15am and my daughter brought me and if it was not for my daughter with a car I do not know how I would have travelled.
“A man told me he has been walking around since 4am.
“How can they do this to us every year, I just got a gold card last year and now this year at the last minute I am told to change it to a black card.”
Another pensioner, Jack Pontac, 80 from Retreat,who had been bedridden for two months, was forced to walk from his home to Grassy Park only to be turned away.
“I have been a servant of God for 80 years,” he said.
“I am a senior pensioner and I was in the queue yesterday as well.
“I left here at about 1pm and I had to leave as I could no longer stand anymore as I was here since the early morning.
“I live in Cafda Retreat, and I found out I must be at Grassy Park Centre and I was up at this morning at 5am and I walked to Grassy Park Centre and when I got there they said they are closed and I had to take a taxi to Wynberg and arrived here just after 6am.
@capeargus_news 🎥 Jack Pontac, 80, is a beneficiary who has been waiting for hours in the queue at Wynberg Sassa offices in the rush for the change from the gold card to the black Postnet card. 🎥 Tracey Adams
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“I hope by God that by the afternoon I have my name recorded so that I can have my name recorded to have pension by April.
“I have been down for two months since December and January but God is good and here over 1000 people.”
The Cape Argus, approached, Dr Bongani Diako, communications Postbank did not respond to queries on the latest developments.
On Wednesday, The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has called on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to ensure that all beneficiaries have access to Postbank sites so that they can migrate to the new Postbank Black Cards before the deadline to receive their March 2025 social grants.
SASSA beneficiaries have until 28 February 2025 to renew their cards and transition from the SASSA Gold Card to the new Postbank Black Card.
The new Black Card has improved security features and provides better access to grant money through ATMs, selected retailers and online platforms.
On Thursday, Wendy Kaizer -Philander MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Social Development.
“In response to the growing concerns, the DA has taken action and launched the “SASSA Switch” campaign. This initiative is designed to assist SASSA clients to seamlessly transfer from their Gold Cards to a bank account of their choice. The DA in the Western Cape is committed to assisting the vulnerable by bringing the SASSA consent form for bank payment to various areas. Through DA councillors and DA pop-up campaigns, we will help facilitate this process, ensuring beneficiaries can access their grants without being left stranded. Our efforts will try to make sure no one is left behind,” she said.
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