The validity of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Gold cards has been extended 20 March 2025. This extension will allow millions of vulnerable social grant recipients to collect a new Sassa black card and continue to access their grant payments.
In a joint statement, Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, and Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, announced an extension for the deadline to swap gold Sassa cards for the black Postbank cards.
Beneficiaries now have until 20 March 2025 to make the switch, instead of the initial deadline of 28 February 2025.
We have listened to the deep concerns and frustrations from our social grant beneficiaries and we trust that this extension will provide much needed time for grant recipients.
The Ministers called on beneficiaries to collect a new Postbank black card as soon as possible. "We strongly encourage our beneficiaries to make sure that they change to the black Postbank card as soon as they can, and well ahead of the 20 March 2025 deadline."
More resources will be deployed to speed up the issuance of new Sassa/postbank black cards.
To make sure that we are able to assist beneficiaries to swop their cards as efficiently as possible, our departments and entities are working together to add more human capacity and are working with retailers to increase the number of sites across the country.
Sassa Gold Card Beneficiaries Can Still Access Grant Payments
Sassa gold card beneficiaries were informed that their grant payments will continue to be made even after the 20 March deadline. However, its functionality will be affected and the only way beneficiaries using the gold cards can access their money is to visit a Post Office Branch.
We would like to emphasise that grant payments will continue as per usual, even after the 20th of March deadline. If beneficiaries haven't exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds
This extension comes in response to concerns raised by social grant beneficiaries, with the aim of providing more time for recipients to complete the transition.
Sassa distributes over 18 million permanent grant payments, including the Older Persons pension grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid.
Many of these grant beneficiaries make use of the Sassa gold card to collect their monthly social grant payments and transact with their social grant payment money.
The looming expiry of the Sassa Gold cards was a major concern for civil society groups and stakeholders who feared the sudden change to the Sassa Black card could leave millions of people without critical financial support. Their collective calls for an extension have been granted.
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.
Postbank assures all Sassa gold card grant recipients who have not yet received a black card that their gold cards will continue to work for grant collection until they are replaced. There is no need for concern.
Postbank noted several benefits for grant beneficiaries who switch to the new black Sassa card, including free first card replacement, three free store withdrawals per month, one free monthly statement, and assurance of no unauthorised account deductions, ensuring funds are secure.
