The deadline for grant recipients to migrate to new cards is in just over two weeks, but as Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele says, this has become ‘nearly impossible’.
The morning queue at the SASSA office in Gugulethu stretches around the block, a scene replicated across South Africa as panic grows among social grant recipients. Elderly pensioners lean on canes, mothers clutch infants to their chests, and the disabled wait patiently in wheelchairs – all desperate to ensure their lifeline of financial support doesn’t suddenly disappear after 20 March.
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“I’ve been here since 4am,” sighs Nomvula Khumalo, a 71-year-old grandmother who supports three grandchildren with her monthly grant. “This is my third attempt this week. Yesterday they closed the gates before I could get in, and the day before the system was offline. I don’t know what will happen if I don’t get this new card.”
Her anxiety reflects the growing crisis facing millions of social grant beneficiaries as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) struggles to meet its self-imposed deadline to migrate all recipients from the old Postbank SASSA cards to new ones. With just over two weeks remaining, Deputy Minister of Social Development Mondli Gungubele has finally acknowledged what many on the ground have been saying for months: completing the migration by 20 March has become “nearly impossible.”
The Impossible Timeline: How We Got Here
The card migration saga began in November 2023 when SASSA announced that beneficiaries would need to replace their gold SASSA/Postbank cards with new cards by 31 December 2023. This deadline was extended multiple times – first to January 2024, then to February, and now to 20 March 2024.
The repeated extensions reflect the enormous logistical challenges of transitioning approximately 8.5 million beneficiaries to new cards in just a few months. According to inside sources at SASSA who spoke on condition of anonymity, the timeframe was unrealistic from the start.
“We knew this would be a nightmare,” confided a regional SASSA manager. “The original timeline was set by executives who have never worked on the ground. To process millions of people, many elderly, disabled, or living in remote areas, in just a few months? We needed at least a year for a smooth transition.”
The process requires beneficiaries to physically visit SASSA or Postbank offices to verify their identities and receive new cards – a significant challenge for those in rural areas, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Transportation costs alone can consume a substantial portion of a grant recipient’s monthly income.
The Human Cost of Administrative Chaos
At the SASSA office in Pietermaritzburg, I meet Thembeka Zulu, who has traveled over 60km from her rural homestead, spending R120 on transport she can barely afford.
“This is my second day waiting. Yesterday I was here for eight hours before being told to come back today,” she explains, her 4-year-old daughter sleeping on her lap in the sweltering heat. “I receive the child support grant for my three children. If I don’t get this new card, how will I feed them next month?”
Her story is not unique. Across the country, similar scenes of desperation unfold daily as beneficiaries struggle to navigate the migration process. The human cost extends beyond the inconvenience of long queues. For many, the uncertainty surrounding their grants creates profound anxiety and stress.
Johannes Magagula, a disability grant recipient in Mpumalanga, explains: “This money is how I survive. I need special medication that SASSA doesn’t cover. Without my grant, I would have to choose between medicine and food. How do they expect people like me to travel and stand in queues for hours?”
Systemic Failures and Technical Challenges
Deputy Minister Gungubele’s admission that the deadline is “nearly impossible” comes after months of systemic failures in the migration process. Technical glitches, understaffing, and inadequate planning have plagued the transition from the start.
During a surprise visit to SASSA offices in Gauteng, Gungubele witnessed first-hand the challenges facing both beneficiaries and staff. Systems were offline for hours, forcing hundreds of people who had been queuing since dawn to return another day. Staff worked without lunch breaks in a desperate attempt to process as many people as possible.
“What I saw was both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Gungubele told Parliament’s Social Development Committee last week. “Our most vulnerable citizens were being subjected to undignified conditions because of administrative failures. We must do better.”
The technical challenges extend beyond SASSA’s offices. Many beneficiaries report that even after receiving new cards, they encounter problems using them at ATMs or merchants. Some have been issued cards that don’t work at all, forcing them to return to the already overwhelmed SASSA offices.
The Postbank Factor
The separation of Postbank from SASSA has complicated matters further. Previously, SASSA worked directly with Cash Paymaster Services and later the South African Post Office to distribute grants. Now, with Postbank operating as a separate entity, coordination problems have multiplied.
“The left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing,” says financial inclusion expert Dr. Nomsa Dlamini from the University of Cape Town. “SASSA issues instructions to beneficiaries, then Postbank communicates something different. The poor communication between these entities is directly harming grant recipients.”
This communication breakdown has resulted in conflicting information reaching beneficiaries. Some report being told by SASSA officials that their old cards will continue working past the deadline, while others are warned that failure to migrate will result in immediate suspension of their grants.
Grant Distribution by the Numbers
To understand the scale of the crisis, consider the following data on South Africa’s social grant system:
| Grant Type | Number of Recipients | Monthly Amount (R) | Annual Expenditure (Billions R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Age Pension | 3,751,847 | 2,080 – 2,100 | 93.2 |
| Disability Grant | 1,062,351 | 2,080 | 26.5 |
| Child Support | 12,945,678 | 510 | 79.2 |
| Foster Care | 298,456 | 1,130 | 4.0 |
| Care Dependency | 156,173 | 2,080 | 3.9 |
| War Veterans | 42 | 2,100 | 0.001 |
| Social Relief of Distress (SRD) | 8,537,921 | 350 | 35.8 |
| TOTAL | 26,752,468 | – | 242.6 |
Source: SASSA Annual Report 2023/2024 and Department of Social Development figures as of February 2025
These numbers highlight the enormous responsibility SASSA bears in ensuring financial support reaches nearly 27 million South Africans. The card migration affects approximately 8.5 million beneficiaries who receive their grants through SASSA cards, excluding SRD grant recipients who use different payment methods.
The Rural Challenge
Rural beneficiaries face particularly severe challenges in meeting the migration deadline. In the Eastern Cape’s former Transkei region, many pensioners must travel over 50km to reach the nearest SASSA office or Postbank branch.
“I left home at 3am to catch the only taxi that passes through our village,” explains 76-year-old Nkosazana Mthembu from a remote area near Lusikisiki. “It cost me R170 round trip – that’s almost 10% of my monthly pension just to come here. And now they say the system is down and I must come back tomorrow. Where am I supposed to sleep? How will I pay for another taxi?”
SASSA’s mobile units, intended to reach remote areas, have been inconsistently deployed and frequently break down. According to volunteer community workers who assist the elderly, some villages have not seen a mobile unit in months despite promises that they would visit regularly during the migration period.
What Comes Next: Potential Solutions
With the 20 March deadline looming and millions still needing to migrate, what options remain?
Social development experts and advocacy groups are calling for an immediate six-month extension of the deadline, accompanied by a comprehensive strategy to reach vulnerable beneficiaries.
“SASSA needs to meet people where they are,” argues Thandiwe Zulu, director of the Social Justice Coalition. “That means significantly more mobile units in rural areas, extended operating hours including weekends, and special arrangements for the elderly and disabled who cannot stand in queues.”
Some have suggested a more targeted approach, prioritizing migration for those who regularly use their cards for ATM withdrawals or merchant payments, while allowing more time for beneficiaries who receive direct bank deposits.
Deputy Minister Gungubele has indicated that his department is considering all options, including a potential deadline extension. However, any change requires coordination with National Treasury and Postbank, as contracts and systems are already configured around the current deadline.
“We are working around the clock to find solutions,” Gungubele promised. “No beneficiary will lose their grant due to administrative challenges beyond their control.”
FAQs: SASSA Card Migration
Why is SASSA replacing the old gold cards?
The old SASSA/Postbank gold cards are being replaced due to security concerns and the separation of Postbank from the Post Office. The new cards offer improved security features to protect beneficiaries from fraud.
Will my grant be stopped if I don’t get a new card by March 20?
Deputy Minister Gungubele has indicated that no beneficiary will lose their grant due to administrative challenges, but SASSA still officially maintains that migration is necessary by the deadline.
What documents do I need to get a new SASSA card?
You need your ID document, old SASSA card, and proof of address. Biometric verification (fingerprints) is also required at the office.
Can someone collect a new card on my behalf if I’m too ill to visit a SASSA office?
Yes, but they need a letter from a doctor confirming your condition, your ID, their ID, and an authorization letter from you. Special home visits can be arranged in extreme cases.
Is there a cost to get the new SASSA card?
No, the new SASSA card is issued free of charge. Beware of scammers asking for payment.
As the deadline approaches, millions of South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens remain caught between bureaucratic requirements and practical reality. For people like Nomvula, Thembeka, and Johannes, the stakes couldn’t be higher – their very survival depends on a smooth transition to the new system. Whether SASSA can rise to this enormous challenge remains to be seen in the coming days.
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