Picture: X/The Witness
Social grant beneficiaries who are still using SASSA Gold Cards have been urged to replace them with Postbank Black Cards before the 31 August 2026 deadline, as the old cards are being phased out.
Also see: September SASSA grants: Payment schedule for beneficiaries
With only days remaining before the cut-off, Postbank and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are making a final appeal to beneficiaries who have not yet completed the migration.
The Gold Cards will no longer function once the migration is complete, potentially disrupting beneficiaries’ access to their grant funds.
Many still need to make the switch
According to The Citizen, Postbank has reported that more than 1.8 million beneficiaries have already moved from Gold Cards to the new Black Cards.
But fewer than 80,000 beneficiaries are still outstanding as of the latest appeal, with significant numbers in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
Postbank has warned beneficiaries not to wait until their grant payment dates to replace their cards, as increased demand could result in longer queues at replacement sites.
Postbank has indicated that the migration deadline will not be extended. The government has stressed that beneficiaries should complete the migration to help ensure uninterrupted access to their social grant payments.
Also see: New biometric testing for SASSA beneficiaries without IDs
Where can SASSA beneficiaries get a Black Card?
Beneficiaries can replace their Gold Cards at designated Postbank card-issuing sites located inside selected retailers. These include:
- Shoprite
- Checkers
- Usave
- Pick n Pay
- Boxer
- Spar
The replacement sites generally operate nationwide from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Beneficiaries can dial *120*355# from their cellphone to find their nearest card replacement site.
The replacement is free of charge. You will need to present a valid South African identity document or a valid temporary ID when collecting the new card.
With the deadline approaching, beneficiaries who are still using Gold Cards are encouraged to visit a designated replacement site as soon as possible rather than waiting until the end of the month.
Also see: Wish Granted: SASSA SRD Grant Extended Until 2027, What It Means for South Africans
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