Postbank is enlisting another extension to its deadline for migrating millions of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries from gold cards to its new black cards, pushing the final cutoff to June 30, 2025.
This follows mounting pressure over delays, technical complaints, and fears of grant payment disruptions affecting roughly 28 million beneficiaries.
Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe confirmed the revised timeline during a parliamentary briefing on Wednesday, admitting the entity had only issued 880,000 black cards by February 28—a daily average of 26,648.
To meet the existing March 20 deadline, Postbank would need to ramp up to 100,000 daily issuances, a target Mbengashe called “unrealistic.”
“We plan to have issued all Postbank black cards by no later than 30 June 2025,” she said, outlining interim solutions like cardless cash withdrawals (CCW) and partnerships with retailers such as Spar, Pick n Pay, and Checkers. CCW allows beneficiaries to access funds using their ID and registered cellphone number, a system already in place for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant recipients.
Mounting criticism and “forgotten PIN” claims
The extension follows sharp criticism from Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, who last month accused Postbank of creating a “crisis” by setting deadlines “not informed by any facts.”
Parliament’s social development committee chair, Bridget Masango, echoed these concerns, calling the March 20 deadline a “joke” and citing reports of beneficiaries facing error messages like “wrong PIN,” “no funds,” or partial payments when using black cards.
Mbengashe dismissed claims of systemic glitches, attributing issues to human error: “Our cards are working. The challenge with the PIN is that people forget it as soon as they change it. It’s normal because it’s a new card.”
Western Cape struggles with security and staffing
In the Western Cape, regional authorities have intensified efforts to accelerate the transition, extending office hours and scheduling 26 outreach days in remote areas like Laingsburg, Beaufort West, and Prince Albert. However, Western Cape Social Development Minister Jaco Londt blamed Postbank’s lack of collaboration and staffing shortages—including resignations due to security threats—for delays.
“Many of these problems could have been prevented if there had been collaboration between SASSA, Postbank, and other role-players,” Londt said after a March 3 meeting with Postbank. He urged beneficiaries to switch to direct bank deposits to avoid reliance on physical cards.
Postbank’s “final” push: Retail partnerships and Post Office access
Postbank plans to deploy 7,000 National Youth Development Agency candidates and leverage over 200 Spar stores with 400 tellers to boost card issuance.
Additionally, beneficiaries can withdraw cash at 500 Post Office branches. From March 21 to June 30, grant recipients will be “encouraged” to obtain black cards before accessing April 2025 payments. After June, all alternatives, including CCW, will cease.
“Sites will continue to be fully operational after March 31,” Mbengashe said. “After June 2025, all alternatives will be stopped—everyone should have a black card by then.”
