The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and Postbank have issued a critical warning to social grant beneficiaries: those without the new Postbank Black Cards by the end of February 2025 risk disruptions to their grant payments.
With the February/March payment dates approaching, beneficiaries are urged to act swiftly to avoid potential transaction issues. However, long queues and logistical challenges have sparked calls for an extension to the transition period.
Key Information About the Transition
SASSA Gold Cards Will Stop Working on February 28, 2025
All current gold SASSA cards will stop working on the stipulated February 28, 2025 deadline, irrespective of the expiry date written on the card.
This means that regardless of the expiration date printed on your SASSA Gold Card, it will no longer be functional afterwards.
Benefits of the New Postbank Black Cards
The new Postbank Black Cards offer several advantages and will work seamlessly across various payment channels:
“The new Postbank Black Cards work on all the National Payment System channels such as ATMs, retailer’s point-of-sale machines and any place that accepts a bank card.”
Additionally, SASSA social grant beneficiaries will continue to enjoy the same benefits they received with the Gold Cards, including:
- One free card replacement per year
- Three free withdrawals in stores per month
- One free monthly statement over the counter
How to Get Your Postbank Black Card
To obtain your new Postbank Black Card, follow these steps:
1. Visit the Nearest Postbank Site: “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 to get your Postbank Black Card.”
2. Required Documents: “To get the new Postbank Black Cards, beneficiaries are only required to have a valid South African ID or a temporary ID. No card will be issued without these documents.”
3. No Cost: “The Postbank Black Cards will be issued free of charge.”
Locating the Nearest Collection Point
Postbank has made it easy for beneficiaries to find the nearest location to collect their new cards. From the comfort of your home, you can:
1. Dial: “120218*38”
2. Reply by Pressing Number: “1 and 9”
This service helps you locate the nearest collection point in your province without any hassle.
Calls for Extension Amid Long Queues and Challenges
Despite the approaching deadline, long queues and logistical challenges have raised concerns among beneficiaries and advocacy groups. **Pay the Grants**, a campaign advocating for economic justice, is calling for an extension of the SASSA gold card replacement period.
“We have millions of grant recipients; the queues are so long. People are not going to be able to exchange their cards on time to receive their grants on time next month. This is going to be chaos, so again as the department, I’m urging them to extend the time and give the beneficiaries sufficient time as they did not communicate with the beneficiaries previously regarding this. They just spring that onto beneficiaries. Another thing is, these retailers, are not in the areas where the beneficiaries are residing,” said Elizabeth Raiters, Deputy Chair of Pay the Grants.
The organisation argues that the current timeframe is too short and does not consider the personal circumstances of beneficiaries, many of whom face challenges in accessing the necessary services.
Warnings for Beneficiaries Without New Cards
“Beneficiaries without the new Postbank cards after the deadline are warned that they could have trouble with their transactions.”
This warning underscores the urgency for beneficiaries to act promptly, while also highlighting the need for SASSA and Postbank to address the logistical challenges that many beneficiaries are facing.
Important Contact Information
For further inquiries or assistance, you can contact Postbank or SASSA directly:
- Postbank: “0800 53 54 55”
- SASSA: “0800 60 10 11”
Next SASSA Payment Dates:
- Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant: February 24 to 28 – Monday to Friday
- Old-Age Grants: Tuesday 4 March 2025
- Child support: Thursday, March 6, 2025
