As the March 20th deadline approaches for South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant beneficiaries to switch from their gold cards to the new Postbank black cards, many recipients are concerned about accessing their grants in the coming months. Here’s what you need to know about this transition and how it will affect payments in April and May.
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The Unavoidable Deadline
With just days remaining before the March 20th cutoff, Postbank has reported significant progress in the migration process. According to Bongani Dikeo, Postbank’s head of communications, nearly one million grant beneficiaries had successfully migrated to the new Mzansi debit cards by early March. The announcement of this deadline appears to have accelerated the response from beneficiaries.
It’s important to note that March 20th marks when the Sassa gold cards will stop functioning, not the final day to apply for the new black card. Recipients can still obtain their Postbank black cards after this date.
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Alternative Payment Options for Gold Cardholders
For those unable to meet the deadline, Postbank has implemented contingency measures to ensure grant recipients can still access their funds in April and May:
- Post Office Collection: Beneficiaries can collect their grants from any of the 543 South African Post Office branches nationwide using their ID documents.
- Retail Till Points: Recipients can withdraw cash from retail till points at major stores including:
- Shoprite
- Usave
- Boxer
- Spar
- Pick n Pay
- Checkers
- Cardless Payment Method: Similar to the system used for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries, this option allows for payments without requiring a card.
Continued Migration Efforts
Khusela Sangoni Diko, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies, has confirmed that Postbank has committed to continuing the card swap process “until the last person has been assisted.”
The replacement of Sassa gold cards with Postbank black cards will continue at all current replacement sites, with additional locations being added. Mobile teams from Postbank and Sassa will continue their outreach efforts in rural and outlying areas to ensure widespread coverage.
How to Get Your Postbank Black Card
The process for obtaining a new Postbank black card is straightforward:
- USSD Method:
- Dial 120218*3# from your cellphone
- Select option 1
- Choose your province
- A list of card issuance locations will be provided
- Retail Collection Points: Grant beneficiaries can replace their cards at locations where they normally collect payments, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Boxer Stores nationwide, and Gauteng Pick n Pay stores.
- Required Documents:
- A valid ID or temporary ID
- If collecting on behalf of someone else, bring the Sassa proxy letter
- Asylum seekers need to bring their official Sassa approval letter
The card issuance process is free of charge, and switching to the new card will not affect beneficiaries’ grant payments.
Special Considerations for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals are not yet eligible for the new black cards. However, they can still access their grant money at any Post Office using their current documentation after the gold cards stop working. To ensure smooth transactions, they must bring their existing documents to the Post Office.
Looking Ahead
Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe has emphasized that the transition to the new black cards is part of a broader effort to improve service delivery and security for grant recipients. While the March 20th deadline is significant, the contingency measures in place should ensure that all beneficiaries can continue to receive their grants without interruption.
For further assistance or inquiries, grant recipients can contact Postbank toll-free at 0800 53 54 55 or email [email protected].
The migration to the Postbank black cards represents an important modernization of South Africa’s social security payment system, designed to provide more secure and efficient service to the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
