The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) commenced with April 2025 grant payments. Millions of people will receive a social grant payment over the next few days. However, despite a previous announcement that Post Office branches would facilitate grant payments, this will no longer be the case.
Last week, Postbank announced an extension to the validity of Sassa gold cards. This extension means that grant beneficiaries can continue using their expired cards to access their grant money and make transactions until the end of May 2025. This includes collecting grant payments at retail outlets using their expired gold cards.
Post Office branches will no longer be paying grants to beneficiaries using a Sassa gold card.
If you have not changed to the new Postbank Black Card yet, your Sassa Gold Card will still work at all major retailers and ATMs across the country. You will receive your grant on your old Sassa Gold Card until the end of May.
Sassa Gold Card Replacements
After months of extensions, Sassa gold cards stopped working on 20 March 2025. This affected more than one million grant beneficiaries living in South Africa.
In an effort to assist beneficiaries with expired gold cards, Postbank announced that beneficiaries could collect their grant payments at Post Office branches.
Following the extension of expired Sassa gold card validity until May 2025, Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe clarified that Post Offices will no longer serve as payment points for beneficiaries using expired gold cards.
Social grant beneficiaries should not visit Post Office branches expecting to withdraw any of their Sassa benefits.
Sassa Grants Have Been Increased For April
Beneficiaries are encouraged to get a new Postbank black card.
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.
