Postbank has given SASSA beneficiaries some reprieve, by extending the gold card migration to Postbank’s black cards within two months.
The bank CEO Nikki Mbengashe made the announcement during a media briefing today in Pretoria, after the initial deadline expired on 20 March 2025.
“As a bank that abides with applicable industry regulations, Postbank welcomes the determination of an extended period that beneficiaries can continue to use gold cards.
This means that beneficiaries that have not yet replaced their SASSA gold cards with the new Postbank black cards can still use their SASSA gold card to access their grants only for the months of April 2025 and May 2025.
As a result of the extension, gold cards will continue to work across all payment systems such as ATM’s, POS machines for cash withdrawal at our partner retail stores and swiping for purchases.
Meaning that due to the extension, the gold cards will continue to work as they do now”, said Mbengashe.
However, she appealed to beneficiaries who have not yet switched their SASSA gold cards to Postbank black cards to use the extended time to replace their cards.
“Social grant beneficiaries are urged not to take too much comfort from the extended period of validity of the gold cards.
They should use the time to get their black cards and not wait until the end date of the extended period, they should get to the card replacement sites immediately to be issued with new cards.
Postbank has not stopped replacing cards, and the issuing of cards is ongoing in all our existing sites,” remarked Mbengashe.
While beneficiaries are advised not to panic, they’re warned that after the new deadline has passed, those who haven’t switched to Postbank black cards will not be able to access their grants.
“SASSA gold cards will be decommissioned after these two months extended period and any grant beneficiary that does not have a black card by end of this period in May 2025, will not be able to access their grant through any channel except through their black card.
Their grant money will remain in their account, and it will only be accessible a black card,” cautioned the CEO.
Mbengashe highlighted that Postbank and SASSA teams have been deployed to various key points across the country to ensure a smooth transition process for all beneficiaries.
