South Africans should be abreast of a host of crucial deadlines, particularly one slated to pass by on March 31. Quite a few will feel the pinch keenly if they don’t make it on any of these highlights. Here is only a handful out of many updates with which South Africans ought to be aware, at the conclusion of March:
1. Deadline to Switch to Postbank Black Cards
When you are receiving an SASSA grant, you should swap your old card for a Postbank Black Card by 28 February 2025. Postbank has been stressing that it is important to pick up your new card so that it will not affect your payouts. Therefore, be hurry and get your new card now to avoid any disruption in your grants.
2. CACH Sign-Ups for Matrics Closing Soon
Failed to make a hit with an undergraduate institution for the academic year 2025? Then Central Application Clearing House (CACH) is your last option. This service will help students with places to study at different higher institutions throughout the country. The applications flipped open on 20 January and are to be shut down on 31 March 2025.
Anyone who sends in an application via CAS and is turned down will have their details entered into CACH. The institutions to which he applies will look through his details and may pick him for a place once a vacancy arises.
3. Switch to Digital TV Before the Deadline
An announcement from the Communications Department said whilst four hundred thousand and upward households have been signing up to receive government-aided TV decoders at no cost, there was still space for more South Africans to switch prior to 31 March 2025. Get your converter box now!
4. Visa Application Extensions
The Department of Home Affairs prolonged certain special visa and waiver application concessions until 31 March 2025. Here’s just a quick overview of information anyone interested in an extension of visa applications should know:
- Applications for long-term visas awaiting approval, review, or appeal after November 2024 are extended by default until 31 March.
- Applicants may exit South Africa anytime before that without being declared undesirable.
- Those persons who are already in possession of 90-day non-visitor visas (issued on or after 1 October 2024) are granted automatic approval for a 90-day period as long as their stays are made for a total period of no longer than 180 days for activities allowed in South Africa.
Travelers will need to obtain a port of entry visa before re-entering if rerouting and they are non-visa-exempt.
5. Potential End of the SASSA SRD Grant
There is the possibility that the SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant will be stopped by 31 March 2025; Minister Godongwana is especially expected to confirm this by the coming month. At least in the meantime beneficiary performance will not be interrupted, with no payback for disbursement in January that ranges from 25 January to 31 January 2025.
