POLOKWANE – The deadline for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries to exchange their SASSA Gold Cards for Postbank Black Cards has been extended from February 28 to March 20.

This was announced on Friday in a joint statement by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi and the Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Tolashe.

“We have listened to the deep concerns and frustrations of our social grant beneficiaries, and we trust that this extension will provide much-needed time for grant recipients. We strongly encourage beneficiaries to make the change to the Postbank Black Card as soon as possible, well ahead of the 20 March 2025 deadline,” the ministers said.

They assured beneficiaries that grant payments will continue as usual, even after the deadline.

If beneficiaries have not exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid, but they will need to visit their nearest post office branch to access their funds.

To facilitate the transition, the two departments are working together to increase staff capacity and collaborate with retailers to expand the number of card exchange sites across the country. Mobile offices will also be deployed to rural areas to ensure as many people as possible receive assistance.

“We will closely monitor the process and receive daily updates to address any challenges that may arise swiftly. Furthermore, the March 20 deadline marks the date when SASSA Gold Cards will stop working, not the last day to apply for the new card. Beneficiaries will still be able to apply for and receive their Postbank Black Cards after this date,” the ministers stated.

The two departments are also working with community leaders and local authorities to ensure that clear information is shared and assistance is provided where needed.

“Ensuring that beneficiaries can exchange their old SASSA Gold Cards with ease is our priority, and we will provide regular updates to the public,” the statement concluded.