Deadline looms – Sassa gold cards to stop working end of February
Beneficiaries that fail to get Postbank Black Cards before the deadline of February 28 are advised that they will not be able to access their grant payments with the Sassa Gold Card.
BENEFICIARIES who are still in possession of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Gold Card are being urged to make the urgent move to the new Postbank Black Cards by February 28.
According to the agency, the Sassa Gold Card will no longer function after this date. “After this deadline, Gold Cards will not function to withdraw cash from all ATMs and retailers, and they will also not be allowed for transactions such as balance enquiries, printing of statements or retail purchases as they will be blocked,” said Postbank spokesperson, Bongani Diako.
The process to replace the gold card began in September 2024 for all 28 million Sassa beneficiaries. The CEO of Postbank, Nikki Mbengashe, said the grants payments that started in the week of February 4-6 were made with Sassa Gold Cards.
“We appeal to beneficiaries that have not yet switched to Postbank Black Cards to take the opportunity and get the new cards before the deadline of 28 February 2025, to avoid not being able to access their Sassa grant payments. All current Sassa Gold Cards in everyone’s possession will stop working on 28 February 2025, irrespective of the expiry date written on the card. Please go to your nearest Postbank site, which is mainly located at one of the retailers near you that include Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Usave and Boxer, and get your Postbank Black Card to continue transacting,” urged Mbengashe.
Also Read: SASSA and Postbank announce phasing out of Post Office cash pay points
Getting the new Postbank Black Card is free of charge for all beneficiaries. To get the new Postbank Black Cards, beneficiaries are required to have a valid South African ID or a temporary ID. “No card will be issued without these documents,” said Mbengashe.
Grant beneficiaries can replace their Sassa Gold Cards with new Postbank Black Cards where they collect their grant payments, mainly at retailers that include Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Boxer nationwide, and Gauteng Pick n Pay stores. The new Postbank Black Cards work in all ATMs, retailers’ point-of-sale machines and any place that accepts a bank card, immediately after being issued to a beneficiary, so there is no waiting period for when they can be used for transactions.
To find your nearest place to collect you black card:
- Dial: *120*218*3# 2
- Reply by pressing number: 1; and 3
- Reply with the number representing the province they live in
“Our appeal to social grant beneficiaries is that they should not wait for the last minute, or for when their cards stop working. They must get their Postbank Black Cards now at their nearby card replacement site as that will guarantee that they continue receiving their payments,” said acting Sassa CEO, Themba Matlou.
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