Black is the new gold: Sassa urges beneficiaries to switch grant cards before month-end

Time is running out for South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) beneficiaries to switch from their Gold Cards to the new Postbank Black Card.

This after Sassa announced that recipients of the various permanent grants won’t be able to access their payments with their Gold Cards after 28 February 2025.

After this deadline, Gold Cards will be blocked, making it impossible for beneficiaries to withdraw cash from ATMs and retailers with these cards.

The cards will also no longer be valid to perform transactions, such as balance enquiries, printing of statements or retail purchases, as they will be blocked.

According to Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe, all Sassa Gold Cards will stop working on 28 February 2025, irrespective of the expiry date written on the card.

“Please go and get your new card at to your nearest Postbank site, which is mostly located at retailers near you. These include Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Usave and Boxer,” urged Mbengashe.

Why the switch from Sassa Gold Card to Postbank Black Card?

Postbank started replacing Sassa Gold Cards with the new Postbank Black Cards in September 2024.

According to the agency, the new card includes biometric authentication and enhanced encryption for improved security and faster access to grant payments.

How to get your Postbank Black Card

Find a card replacement location

1. Dial 120218*3# from your cellphone
2. Select option 1
3. Choose your province

A list of locations issuing new cards will be provided.

Get your Postbank Black Card from retailers

“Grant beneficiaries can also replace their Sassa Gold Cards with the Postbank Black Cards where they normally collect their grant payments such as retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Boxer Stores nationwide and Gauteng Pick n Pay stores,” Mbengashe said.

“Our strategy for where we chose to issue our cards is based on where customers already get their grants now. We have worked with these retailers because they are familiar to our customers and we [Postbank] endeavored to be as close as possible to where most beneficiaries are in each province,” she added.

What to bring along

• A valid ID or temporary ID.
• If collecting on behalf of someone, bring the Sassa proxy letter.
• Asylum seekers need to bring their official Sassa approval letter.

The card issuance process is free of charge, and swapping to the new card won’t affect beneficiaries’ grant payments.

Sick and bedridden Sassa beneficiaries

Postbank has implemented a special programme of home visits to ensure that sick and bedridden beneficiaries are issued black cards from the comfort of their homes.

This category of grant recipients need not go to the replacement sites.

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Sassa queries and complaints

• Contact the Sassa Toll-Free Call Centre on 0800 60 10 11;
• Contact the Sassa head office on 012 400 2322;
• E-mail Sassa head office at grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za; or
• Explore a list of Sassa offices across the country HERE.

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