The South African government has confirmed that the extended deadline for replacing the existing Sassa gold cards with the new Postbank-issued black cards will remain fixed on March 20.

Cabinet has made it clear that there will be no further extensions, urging beneficiaries to act promptly and ensure their cards are exchanged before the cut-off date.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, emphasised that all beneficiaries must complete the replacement process to avoid any disruption in accessing their funds.

Despite the earlier extension, Ntshavheni pointed out that many people have become complacent and are no longer visiting designated stations, leading to delays in card replacements.

“The March 20 deadline is final, and we urge beneficiaries to visit their nearest Postbank branch as soon as possible to ensure they are not left without access to their social security funds,” Ntshavheni said.

The transition has faced criticism, with both Sassa and Postbank recently coming under fire from Members of Parliament for the long queues and slow service at some service points.

Nonetheless, the government is standing firm on the deadline, reminding all Sassa beneficiaries that the old gold card will become invalid after March 20.

Beneficiaries who fail to replace their cards by the deadline will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds.