Nearly 90% of SASSA beneficiaries still holding an old Gold Card receive the Child Grant, according to Postbank.
The disclosure comes as SASSA’s September payment dates approach, with the new payment cycle beginning on Wednesday, 2 September.
That makes young mothers the largest group still affected after SASSA’s final Gold Card switch date passed on Monday.
Child Grant beneficiaries who missed the deadline face potential disruption when they try to access their September payment using an old Gold Card.
The figures highlight the scale of the SASSA Gold Card migration gap, with thousands of beneficiaries still needing to move to the new Postbank Black Card to access their grants.
Why this group is furthest behind
Postbank chief commercial executive Thami Cele linked the trend to mobility rather than reluctance.
He said SASSA Child Grant recipients are typically young mothers who move frequently between addresses and provinces.
That mobility has made it harder for card-swap communication and collection points to reach them consistently.
This differs from Old Age Grant beneficiaries, who tend to collect their grants at fixed, familiar points.
Where the SASSA Gold Card gap is worst
The shortfall broadly follows the provincial breakdown Postbank flagged before the deadline.
The Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng had the highest outstanding numbers.
These provinces also have some of the largest SASSA Child Grant caseloads.
Around 15,000 grants remained unmigrated as the deadline arrived. The overlap between province and grant type suggests that distance to swap points and unstable addresses may be making the migration more difficult.
What “no payment” means for SASSA beneficiaries
Postbank has been direct: beneficiaries who missed the switch cannot draw their SASSA grants using an old Gold Card from their next scheduled payment date.
The card issue is separate from a grant review. It is also separate from the fourth payment date SASSA introduced for beneficiaries under review.
A household could, in theory, face both issues at the same time. However, beneficiaries would need to resolve each issue separately.
SASSA has also introduced biometric verification checks, which began rolling out in 2025 as part of broader efforts to combat grant fraud.
Depending on their circumstances, some beneficiaries may need to complete these checks as well.
What affected SASSA beneficiaries should do
Beneficiaries who missed Monday’s deadline should act quickly, particularly with the September grant payment cycle now beginning.
Postbank has indicated that replacement remains possible after the cutoff, although payment delays are likely until the new card is issued.
Beneficiaries who are unsure of their status can check through SASSA’s WhatsApp enquiry channel on 082 601 0111 instead of queuing at a SASSA office.
They can also seek assistance through the official channels listed below.
The high number of Child Grant beneficiaries still using Gold Cards also raises questions about how future SASSA card migration campaigns should reach younger and more mobile beneficiaries.
Where to get official help: Toll-free Call Centre: 0800 60 10 11 | sassa.gov.za | srd.sassa.gov.za
