Portfolio Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies chairperson Khusela Diko says the committee “appreciated” the PostBank’s 28% progress so far in swopping 797 497 social grant cards.

Last month, Sassa and PostBank announced that social grant recipients must replace their Sassa gold cards with the PostBank’s black cards, with a deadline of February 28.

The deadline was later extended to March 20.

“…although the PostBank is not at the level it should be, its employees are doing their absolute best, under the circumstances. We believe that the PostBank can still do more, working together with all outstanding beneficiaries,” said Diko.

She acknowledged PostBank's work during the “unprecedented” migration process, and noted that significant challenges still persisted, particularly in the Western Cape, as beneficiaries stood in long queues, and as staff were inadequately trained and resources were strained.

The committee noted that the Sassa card swop was a unique and complicated process as no other bank in South Africa had ever had to swop over 2.8-million bank cards in the space of three months without branch offices and adequately trained staff.

Meanwhile, the committee welcomed the reassurance from PostBank that all beneficiaries would continue to receive their grants after the deadline to swop the yellow Sassa cards on March 20, 2025.

In addition, PostBank would continue to swop the yellow cards for PostBank black cards until the last person has been assisted, it assured.

According to PostBank, beneficiaries without black PostBank cards after 20 March, would, however, only be able to receive their grants at their nearest post office.