Here’s the latest on the controversial 2025 SASSA card migration, run under the auspices of the South African Social Security Agency and Postbank. The fast-approaching Thursday 20 March 2025deadline is just two-weeks’ away and the agency is millions of clients off target. Moreover, after a site visit this week in Cape Town, Deputy Minister for Digital Communications, Mondli Gungubele, called the deadline ‘impossible,’ reports Daily Maverick.
This week, a Department of Social Development oversight committee met to give an update on the 2025 SASSA card migration. Postbank and SASSA officials explained that 30% of grant beneficiaries were with Postbank, which accounts for approximately 3-million residents. The committee reiterated that the reason for the 2025 SASSA card migration was due to extra security features in the black card and Postbank’s bad audit outcomes previously.
2025 SASSA CARD MIGRATION
To date, the latest stats on 2025 SASSA card migration are as follows:
- Of the 3-million Postbank beneficiaries, thus far, 880 266cards have been issued (31% completion rate).Â
- 1Â 971 632 cards still need to issued.
- With just 14 days to go to deadline, that equates to 140Â 800 card migrations per day.
- This has increased from an estimated 100 000 SASSA card swaps per day just one-week ago.
Based on these figures, clearly SASSA and Postbank are not going to affect the 2025 SASSA card migration in time. So, what will the recourse be for SASSA beneficiaries who do not get the black card in time? Will their accounts be frozen or suspended?
SAFEGUARD AGAINST FROZEN ACCOUNTS
The steering committee confirmed Postbank accounts will not be frozen or suspended. The next payment run of SASSA grants will go ahead as usual. However, those who have not migrated in time will not be able to draw their SASSA monies with the old card. So, to confirm, there is no account suspension or freezing. The money will reflect, but you simply will not be able to access it.
As an alternative, you will be able to draw money from a South African Post Office (SAPO) branch. And Postbank’s contingency measure for missed deadlines is that recipients will be able to collect new black cards into April. It reminds beneficiaries that they can find participating outlets by dialling *120*218*3#. However, the issue still remains long queues, slow service and systems offline at the retailers.
NO INFO ON NEXT ROUND OF PAYMENTS
Unbelievably, due to the postponed Budget Speech, there is still no confirmation of payment dates or increased amounts next month for ‘core’ SASSA recipients. We strongly urge clients to get in touch with the agency to pressure them for more information:
- SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601Â 011
- WhatsApp SASSA: 082 046 8553.
- Call the Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
- Email SASSA: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
- Or email: president@presidency.gov.za
Remember, the agency can never cancel your SASSA grant without contacting you. Likewise, once you start to receive social welfare, you will never have to reapply for support again. However, the agency reserves the right to request a review of your SASSA account whenever it so chooses. You must, however, receive a written request with three months’ notice. Â
REASONS FOR REVIEW
If your account is reviewed, SASSA officials will look for the following:
- Whether your financial circumstances have changed.
- If you failed to co-operate with an official during questioning.
- You committed any form of fraud or misrepresent yourself/your finances in the application.
- If you’re absent from the country and don’t collect your welfare money for three consecutive months.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO MIGRATE YOUR SASSA CARD?
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