SASSA gold cards to stop working on 28 February

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Social grant beneficiaries who use the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold cards have until 28 February to switch to the Postbank black card.

The gold cards will stop working on 28 February 2025.

SASSA GOLD CARDS WILL NOT WORK BEYOND 28 FEBRUARY

The deadline for the SASSA-issued gold cards was initially set for 31 December 2023. However, it was postponed to December 2024 and later to 28 February 2025. A considerable number of beneficiaries reportedly had not yet switched to the Postbank black cards.

Postbank urged all social grant beneficiaries who have not upgraded to the Postbank black card are urged to do so by dialling *120*218*3# to find card-issuing outlets in their area.

To ensure continued access to grants, beneficiaries can still use their SASSA gold cards at major retail chains, including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Spar, and Boxer, as well as any ATM nationwide before 28 February.�

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it will write to the Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe to request that no gold cards expire before all of them have been replaced, and that interim verification measures be introduced as a matter of urgency “to ensure that no deserving recipients are left in the cold due to SASSA failures”.

DA spokesperson on social development Bridget Masango said the switch to the Postbank gold cards has been chaotic, with SASSA beneficiaries often being sent from pillar to post just to return home empty-handed.

“This causes untold stress on the recipients and also eats away at their meagre finances. Minister Tolashe needs to account to Parliament on the number of SASSA beneficiaries still reliant on their gold cards to receive their grants, as well as how many recipients have switched over the black cards or opened accounts at reliable banks. She also needs to account regarding the legitimate SRD grant recipients being locked out of their grants due to the verification system suspension,” Masango said.