The Postbank has issued an appeal to social grant beneficiaries who have not yet replaced their SASSA Gold Cards with Postbank Black Cards, warning that the deadline for the migration is fast approaching.
Beneficiaries have until 31 August 2026 to complete the switch, with the Postbank cautioning that SASSA Gold Cards are being phased out and will no longer function once the migration process is concluded.
The Postbank said beneficiaries who fail to replace their cards by the deadline could face disruptions in accessing their social grant payments.
The bank is urging beneficiaries not to wait until August or their usual grant payment dates to make the switch, warning that delays could result in longer queues at card replacement sites as the deadline approaches.
“We are already noticing a steady increase in queues at several of our card replacement sites and based on current trends, we anticipate that queues will become considerably longer in August, which is the final month before the deadline,” said Thamsanqa Cele, Postbank’s chief commercial officer.
“Beneficiaries who postpone their visit until then may experience substantial delays due to the expected increase in demand.”
The Postbank said it has deployed resources to support the card migration programme but stressed that beneficiaries also need to make use of the time remaining to replace their cards.
Postbank Black Cards are available from selected retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar stores.
Card replacement sites are open nationwide from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.
Beneficiaries can dial 120 355# from their mobile phones to locate their nearest replacement site.
The replacement process is free, and beneficiaries are required to present a valid South African identity document or temporary ID.
The Postbank is also advising beneficiaries not to visit SASSA offices unnecessarily for enquiries related to Gold Cards or Black Cards. Instead, beneficiaries are encouraged to visit a nearby Postbank service point or contact the bank's call centre for assistance with payment-related queries.
It said its customer service teams are equipped to assist with issues including missed payments, PIN-related queries, lost or stolen cards, card reissues and declined transactions.
Beneficiaries requiring assistance can contact the Postbank's call centre on 0800 5354 55. – SAnews.gov.za
