Postbank has announced that as it has successfully swapped over one million social grant beneficiaries from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold card to the new Postbank black cards.
This was announced by Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe during a joint media briefing by Postbank and SASSA on Monday.
“Postbank is encouraged to announce that we have achieved a significant milestone in our replacement of SASSA gold cards with Postbank black cards. As of 10 March 2025, we successfully swapped over 1 million social grant beneficiaries from the SASSA gold card to the new improved and more compliant Postbank black cards,” Mbengashe said in an update on the replacement of SASSA gold cards with Postbank black cards.
The two entities expressed appreciation to all grant beneficiaries that came forward in their numbers to replace their cards.
“Our heartfelt ‘thank you’ for your encouraging response, not forgetting thousands that are at our card replacement sites right now in all parts of the country to ensure that they also get their black cards …Thank you.
“To those that are yet to replace their SASSA gold cards, we encourage you to still head to a Postbank card replacement site to get your black cards,” the CEO said.
Postbank card replacement sites are located mainly in selected branches of major retailers that include Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, PicknPay, Boxer, Spar, and beneficiaries can dial *120*355# from a cellphone to look up a nearby site.
Beneficiaries require only a form of identification, which can be an RSA green barcoded ID, smart card ID, or temporary ID to do the swap. The cards are issued at no cost to the beneficiaries.
“For us as Postbank, reaching this milestone gives impetus to our commitment to ensure that all our gold card grant beneficiaries are issued with new cards,” Mbengashe said.
20 March 2025 deadline and what it means
The CEO reiterated that the SASSA gold cards will stop working on 20 March 2025 and no beneficiary would then be able to use their SASSA gold card to make any transaction, even if they have funds in their account.
“Beneficiaries would not be able to use SASSA gold cards to buy or withdraw cash inside stores. Retailers would not accept the cards for any transactions, and any attempts will result in automatic system transaction declines.
“Beneficiaries would also not be able to use SASSA gold cards at any ATM. The SASSA gold may be swallowed when inserted in any ATM to attempt a transaction,” she said.
She explained that any balance of funds that are available in the SASSA gold card when the cards stop working will be stored safely in each beneficiary’s bank account, and the funds will be accessible for withdrawal though the Post Office withdrawal process, the retailer’s cardless payment method if one is registered for it, or through the Postbank black card.
“Beneficiaries that would still be in possession of SASSA gold cards are strongly discouraged from attempting any transaction with the cards to avoid disappointment, even when they still have available funds,” she explained.
What the 20th March 2025 deadline does not mean
The CEO further explained that the 20 March 2025 is not a cut-off date for when Postbank stops replacing SASSA gold cards.
Postbank will continue replacing SASSA gold cards with new Postbank black cards in all its card replacement sites even after this date.
“Social grant beneficiaries may still replace their SASSA gold cards with Postbank black cards on, and after, 20th of March 2025.
“To prepare for the next grant payments that are scheduled for 3 to 5 April 2025, SASSA and Postbank encourage beneficiaries to make extra efforts to use the period between now and those payments dates to get their black cards,” Mbengashe said.
By doing that, she explained that beneficiaries will guarantee that their April 2025 grant payments are made with their cards.
She said Postbank will continue to swap the gold card until the end of June 2025.
“This is when we believe we should have swapped all beneficiaries that bank with Postbank. We, however, plead with all beneficiaries to please use the rest of the month of March and perhaps into early April 2025 to go get their new cards,” the CEO said.
How do I access my April Grant payment if I do not have a black card yet?
Postbank and SASSA have assured social grant beneficiaries and the public that the payments of social grants will not be interrupted. All social grant beneficiaries will continue to be paid, including all the social grant beneficiaries who have not been able to get their black cards.
“Starting from the next grant payments that are scheduled for 3 to 5 April 2025 and onwards, social grant beneficiaries that are yet to replace their gold cards with Postbank black cards, can go withdraw their grant at their nearest Post Office.
“There are currently 543 Post Office branches countrywide that we are working with. All that one will need to make this withdrawal is their ID (green barcoded ID, smart card ID, or temporary ID),” the CEO said.
Mbengashe said that the Post Office branch-based payments are a channel that many of the social grant beneficiaries have used before, and they are familiar with.
Beneficiaries are urged to note that the Post Office branch payments will be restricted to social grant beneficiaries that are yet to replace their SASSA gold cards, asylum seekers and Postbank green Mzansi/blue cards’ grant beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries who already have Postbank black cards are urged to use their card through ATMs and retailers to access their funds.
They are further urged to never try to collect their payments inside Post Office branches as they will not be provided with a service. Post Office branches will only provide cash withdrawals for those whose black cards are either lost or stolen.
“Social grant beneficiaries are also reminded that the Post Office payments are an interim measure, therefore they should use the time of this arrangement to make efforts to get their Postbank black cards. As mentioned, the replacement of SASSA gold cards will continue post 20 March 2025 in all the existing Postbank card replacement sites, and more sites are being added every day,” the CEO said.
Postbank and SASSA said they have taken these measures to ensure that there are no interruptions in the payments of social grants, and that beneficiaries that are yet to replace their SASSA gold cards continue to access their grants when the time for their cards to stop working arrives on 20 March 2025. – SAnews.gov.za
