By REGINALD KANYANE
24 April 2026 – Postbank is proud to announce a landmark milestone for social grant beneficiaries that use SASSA Gold Cards as their time to be issued with Black Cards has come. The replacement of SASSA Gold Cards starts on 29 April 2026.
Postbank’s Chief Commercial Officer, Thamsanqa Cele said the card replacements form part of the broader Postbank card migration program that began in September 2024, and this phase is aimed specifically at grant beneficiaries who have not yet migrated. Cele said all social grant beneficiaries that are still in possession of SASSA Gold Cards have until 31 August 2026, to migrate to the new cards.
“Anyone without a Black Card after this date will not be able to access their SASSA grant payments because the Gold Cards will stop working. Grant beneficiaries who have already migrated to Postbank Black Cards are assured that no further action is required.
“Their Black Card remains valid and continues to offer key protections and benefits, including three free withdrawals, one free card replacement, and a free monthly statement. Importantly, their account is protected from any deductions and safeguards their personal information against misuse, and therefore they need not switch banks,” he said.
Cele further said for those who have not migrated, the message is urgent. He added that they should start collecting their Black Cards as soon as the card distribution starts and never count on any extensions as the time for them to migrate is fixed.
“Starting from this month, we are intensifying the final stages of the SASSA Gold Cards replacement process. This is a direct call to action for customers who have not yet migrated — please act as soon as possible and treat this invitation with the seriousness it deserves.
“The deadline will not be extended, and customers who miss it risk interruption to their grant payments. Black Cards can be collected from any Postbank site inside selected retailers that include Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, PicknPay, Boxer and Spar stores,” said Cele.
He said the process is FREE of charge and does not require beneficiaries to complete any forms. Beneficiaries only need to present a valid RSA ID (or a Temporary ID). Cele said cards can be collected from any province, even if that is not the province in which a person’s SASSA grant got approved.
“Postbank Black Cards work immediately upon issue, and there is no need to go to a SASSA office. Any funds balance currently in a customer’s Gold Card will automatically be reflected with the new cards.
“To find the nearest open replacement site, beneficiaries can dial #120*355# on any mobile phone. These sites will also assist customers who have lost their Black Cards and support them with PIN resets. For any enquiries, customers must call Postbank on 0800 53 54 55,” he said.
Cele said it is important to remember, if the Black Card is not written Postbank in the front and the users are being asked to complete forms to change their method of payment for the card to work, then that card is not a Postbank Black Card. He said grant beneficiaries are advised to always be on the lookout for fraudsters that are looking to take advantage.
“Those who have previously moved away from Postbank and are considering returning are encouraged to remain patient and be on the lookout for announcements of how to switch back,” said Cele.
The Guardian 