Thandoluhle Ngcobo19 March 2025 | 11:02

SASSA, Postbank racing to have all beneficiaries registered to black card

Postbank and SASSA have held numerous briefings in recent weeks to update the public on the migration process, which began in September 2024. 

SASSA, Postbank racing to have all beneficiaries registered to black card

Postbank has started introducing a new Black Card for SASSA beneficiaries. Picture supplied by SASSA

JOHANNESBURG - As the deadline looms for beneficiaries to swap their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold cards to the new Postbank black cards, both entities are racing to have all 2.6 million beneficiaries registered.  

Postbank and SASSA have held numerous briefings in recent weeks to update the public on the migration process, which began in September 2024. 

ALSO READ: SASSA beneficiaries who fail to meet migration deadline to get payouts at selected Post Offices

The move was mandated by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) following a security breach with the SASSA gold cards.  

Postbank was inundated with beneficiaries coming to swap their SASSA cards for the new Postbank black cards after applications picked up when the initial deadline of 28 February was announced.  

This has now been moved to 20 March.  

With just hours before the deadline, Postbank has increased its service centres, and some officials are stationed at retailers to speed up the migration process.  

SASSA has also stepped in to assist.  

During a briefing earlier this week, Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe said 200 registrations take place daily, with more than one million successful migrations completed.  

She added that Thursday’s deadline only means the SASSA gold card will no longer be working, but the issuing of Postbank black cards will continue.  

Recipients who don’t have their new black cards will be able to access their grants using their ID at Post Office branches.