Beneficiaries have been warned that only two payment cycles remain before SASSA Gold Cards become invalid, with Postbank confirming that the replacement deadline will not be extended.
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Beneficiaries of social grants are urged to replace their SASSA Gold Cards with Postbank Black Cards before the 31 August 2026 deadline to ensure uninterrupted access to payments.
Postbank warned that only two payment cycles remain before the transition deadline and said the cut-off date would not be extended.
It cautioned that beneficiaries who delay the replacement process could face difficulties accessing their grant payments closer to the deadline, IOL reported.
''Failure to replace the SASSA Gold Cards before the deadline may result in beneficiaries being unable to access their social grant payments using the old cards.''
Postbank Chief Commercial Officer Thami Cele said the institution was concerned that some beneficiaries may be underestimating the urgency of the change.
“The window period for replacing SASSA Gold Cards is closing fast, and we are concerned that many beneficiaries may think that they still have sufficient time, or the period will be extended.
''Anyone without a Black Card after the deadline will need to first obtain a new card before they can access payments,'' he said.
Cele added that Postbank was making a special appeal for beneficiaries to act early while the process remains free of charge and widely accessible.
He also said that the replacement process was free of charge and encouraged beneficiaries to complete the switch early to avoid last-minute congestion at service points.
The replacement process is free of charge and can be completed at designated service points in selected retail outlets nationwide, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer, and Spar.
Beneficiaries are required to present a valid or temporary ID when collecting their new cards.
Postbank said beneficiaries can locate nearby collection points by dialling 120355#, and confirmed that cards can be collected from any province, regardless of where a grant was originally approved.
It added that existing Gold Cards will stop functioning after the deadline, while the new Black Cards will activate immediately upon issue.
Any remaining balance on Gold Cards will automatically be transferred to the new cards.
Postbank said beneficiaries will not need to visit a SASSA office once they have received their new card, as funds will reflect automatically on the updated system.
The institution also warned beneficiaries to be vigilant against scams, saying only cards clearly marked “Postbank” on the front are legitimate.
It cautioned that any card without this branding should be treated as fraudulent, adding: “If it’s not written Postbank, then it is a scam.”
Postbank further said no forms are required during the replacement process and warned beneficiaries not to sign or complete any documents.
“If you are asked to complete or sign any form, the card is not a Postbank Black Card. Don’t accept it, and call Postbank’s toll-free number for help, it said.
For enquiries, beneficiaries may contact Postbank on 0800 5354 55.
Postbank said it remains committed to ensuring that beneficiaries continue receiving their grants safely, securely, and without interruption.