Johanna Tshona: “Why are we changing the gold card? They could have automatically made these cards for us using their system to make life easier for everybody. They could have given us a date to collect the cards from our closest SASSA offices. Many of our peers cannot walk properly and stand for long hours. We are disappointed with how these changes happened and the processes implemented.”
William Ndlovu: “I have not had the chance to replace my card and am grateful that the deadline was extended. I was already worried I would not get my pension money next month.”
Mampedi Shilakwe: “My great-grandson stood in line for me at SASSA and called me in when it was my turn. I am too old to stand for too long but managed to change my SASSA card at the end of the day.”
Joyce Magosi: “We have many concerns regarding changing the SASSA cards from gold to black. Besides the long queues at the SASSA offices, most of us wonder if Postbank is a reliable financial institution. The government hardly explains these changes to us. We do not even know why we are changing.”
Jane Mohapi: “The queues at the offices are unbearable. We are not well accommodated or provided chairs when in the queue. The lines are often cut off at a certain number. We are not offered refreshments and have been going back and forth in this awful weather.”
Mnikwa Dladla: “The process was simple for me. I went to the Shoprite Kwa-Thema Junction and found the line operating smoothly. They took my fingerprints, ID and the old card. In less than 10 minutes, I was done. It is unfortunate many others encountered problems with the process.”
Thokozile Dladla: “The weather has been bad this week, yet many of us had to wake up early to stand in those long lines to change our cards. We sat there for almost the whole day, and some were turned back due to the number of people accepted per day. Many cannot walk and use wheelchairs and walkers, which becomes a problem when all crowded in one place.”
