The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) pays social grants to millions of vulnerable people living in South Africa. Many of these grant beneficiaries are required to collect a new Postbank Black card.
The rollout of Postbank black cards commenced in 2024. When the rollout began, grant beneficiaries were assured that no Sassa gold cards would expire until all beneficiaries received a Postbank Black card.
However, in early 2025, the agency confirmed that Sassa gold cards would stop working at the end of February. This sparked concern among beneficiaries with many calling for an extension of the validity of Sassa gold cards. This extension was granted and beneficiaries have until 20 March 2025 to collect a Postbank black card.
Rollout Of New Postbank Black Cards Concerns
Last week, Minister Sisisi Tolashe met with the MECs of Social Development to discuss the rollout of new Postbank black cards. The meeting was dubbed MINMEC with attendees expressing their unhappiness with the way the Postbank is rolling out new cards.
Postbank was criticised for subjecting beneficiaries to inhumane conditions. The insufficient card replacement sites were also noted in the meeting.
Their current processes are slow and violate the dignity of their clients by subjecting them to inhumane conditions, where there are no ablution facilities, there are extended queueing lines and clients are exposed to adverse weather conditions.
MINMEC attendees added that card issuance sites are not well located and require beneficiaries to travel long distances to replace their cards. These challenges are exacerbated when beneficiaries are not assisted due to insufficient capacity at sites.
Card issuance sites are also not well located with many of their clients having to travel long distances to access towns and often do not get served on the day, due to capacity and poor logistic management.
Beneficiaries Are Replacing Sassa Gold Cards
Despite concerns about the inefficiency of the card rollout process, beneficiaries are making an effort to replace their Sassa gold cards with Postbank black cards. By Friday, 21 February 2025, 716 900 beneficiaries transitioned to black cards.
Since the extension deadline announcement on 14 February 2025, more than 126,660 new cards have been issued.
Postbank achieved a record-high daily conversion number of 29,006 beneficiaries. This is a noteworthy development given that card replacement conversions were historically low due to beneficiaries’ response levels.
Postbank is increasing card distribution sites nationally. This includes the activation of an additional 237 Spar retail outlets in the next 10 days to increase the number of sites distributing cards.
As part of the initiatives to grow capacity within the already existing sites, Postbank has also increased the number of tellers in the card replacement sites nationally from 2 tellers to up to 3 -5 tellers, depending on the business of the site.
Sassa will support the issuance of new cards with the agency deploying staff to distribution sites around the country.
The business days at card replacement sites have been extended from Monday to Friday, including Saturdays. Postbank increased the operating hours in all the card distribution sites to ensure that each site closes according to the operating hours of the retail stores, and some sites close at 8 pm.
Sassa gold card users will still receive grant payments after the 20 March deadline, but card functionality will be limited. Those who haven’t replaced their cards must visit a Post Office branch to access their funds.
Where to Get a New Sassa Card
Postbank provided the following instructions for beneficiaries to locate a card replacement centre:
- Step 1: Dial *120*355#
- Step 2: Select option 1
- Step 3: Choose your province
After completing these steps, beneficiaries will see a list of locations where new cards are being issued.
When collecting a new Sassa card, bring your ID (or a temporary ID if the original is lost). If collecting on behalf of someone else, bring the official Sassa proxy letter. Asylum seeker grant beneficiaries should bring the official Sassa approval letter.
Beneficiaries need a valid ID or temporary ID to receive their Postbank Black Card. Those who have lost their IDs should obtain a temporary ID.
