Today marks the official cut-off date for the SASSA gold cards to stop working at any bank and retailers. Postbank explained that beneficiaries who are still in possession of gold cards and haven't switched to the Postbank black cards will have to go into the post office with their identity document to collect their grants.

NOT ACCEPTABLE 

Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe, said that after today, the SASSA gold card will be inactive. "Retailers would not accept the cards for any transactions, and any attempts will result in automatic system transaction declines. Beneficiaries would also not be able to use SASSA gold cards on any ATM. The SASSA gold may be swallowed when inserted in any ATM to attempt a transaction,' Mbengashe said.

THE WORK CONTINUES

Mbengashe said that despite the March 20 cut-off date Postbank will continue issuing replacement cards at their replacetransactional sites which will continue to April. " To prepare for the next grant payments for 3 to 5 April 2025, SASSA and Postbank encourage beneficiaries to make extra efforts to use the period between now and the payment dates to get their black cards,' Mbengashe said. SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said they will continue to intensify this process even beyond the March 20 deadline if people have not migrated by then. "Our outreach programmes will also continue beyond the March 20 deadline as we want to ensure that we assist as many people as possible to ensure that they are not inconvenienced in the April pay run and beyond. Working with Postbank, as SASSA, we want to assure our beneficiaries in all corners of the country that social assistance will continue, and everyone will be paid as per the norm.'