Long Queues as SASSA Beneficiaries Rush to Replace Expiring Gold Cards
📅 Updated: February 2025
With just days left before the 28 February 2025 deadline, thousands of SASSA grant beneficiaries are rushing to replace their expiring SASSA Gold Cards with the new Postbank Black Cards. In Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, pensioners, people with disabilities, and caregivers queued for hours at card replacement sites, desperate to secure continued access to their grants.
Urgency as Gold Cards Expire on 28 February
SASSA and Postbank have repeatedly urged beneficiaries to replace their Gold Cards, warning that after 28 February 2025, these cards will no longer work for withdrawals, balance inquiries, or purchases.
📢 Postbank Statement:
“After this deadline, Gold Cards will not function to withdraw cash from ATMs and retailers, and they will also not be allowed for transactions such as balance inquiries, printing of statements, or retail purchases as they will be blocked.”
🚨 If you have not switched to the new Postbank Black Card, you risk losing access to your social grant.
Beneficiaries Struggle with Long Queues and High Travel Costs
Despite early warnings, many beneficiaries waited until the last minute to replace their cards. As a result, queues at SASSA service points and Postbank sites have stretched for hours, with some people arriving before dawn.
💬 Phayizana Ndlovu, 84, from Qhudeni (80 km from Nquthu), shared her struggle:
“I spent R350 on taxi fare to come here. If I don’t change my SASSA card, my family of 12 will have no money for food.”
Many pensioners and people with disabilities travel long distances from rural areas, only to arrive at overwhelmed service centers facing system issues and delays.
Where to Get Your Postbank Black Card
Beneficiaries must visit an official Postbank Black Card collection point to replace their expired SASSA Gold Card.
Click this link to get a list of where to collect your SASSA Post Bank Black Cards
📍 Collection Points Include:
✅ Retailers – Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Usave, Boxer, and Checkers
✅ Post Offices – Selected branches nationwide
✅ Postbank Sites – Use the USSD code *120*218*3# to find a location near you
🛑 No Online Applications: The Postbank Black Card can only be collected in person for security reasons.
How to Replace Your Expiring SASSA Gold Card
💡 Follow these steps to get your new Postbank Black Card:
1️⃣ Bring your original South African ID or a valid temporary ID.
2️⃣ Visit your nearest Postbank Black Card collection site (use *120*218*3# to find one).
3️⃣ Your card will be activated immediately—there is no waiting period.
4️⃣ Use your new Postbank Black Card to withdraw your grant at retailers, ATMs, or Postbank service points.
📌 Important: There is no fee to replace your SASSA Gold Card with a Postbank Black Card.
Concerns Over Rural Access and Processing Delays
While thousands have already replaced their cards, many still face barriers such as:
🚫 Limited access to Postbank sites in rural areas
🚫 Long queues due to system backlogs
🚫 Confusion over the replacement process
SASSA has acknowledged these challenges and urges beneficiaries to act immediately to avoid being left without grant payments in March.
💬 Siphesihle Mbatha, a SASSA official, advised beneficiaries:
“We have a backlog of thousands of applications. Beneficiaries should visit their nearest Post Office or retailer instead of waiting in line at SASSA offices.”
Will the Deadline Be Extended?
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on SASSA to extend the deadline beyond 28 February 2025, arguing that millions of beneficiaries may not switch in time due to delays and logistical issues.
📢 DA Statement:
“The extension of barely a month is not enough. Many social grant beneficiaries are still struggling to switch to the new cards due to Postbank and SASSA’s poor planning.”
However, SASSA has not confirmed any further extensions—meaning beneficiaries should not wait until the deadline is final.
What Happens If You Miss the 28 February Deadline?
🚨 If you do not replace your SASSA Gold Card before 28 February 2025:
❌ You will not receive your grant in March.
❌ Your Gold Card will stop working at ATMs, retailers, and Postbank service points.
❌ You may face long delays in getting your Black Card later due to demand.
📢 Act now to ensure you continue receiving your grant without disruption!
Final Reminders: Replace Your SASSA Gold Card Today
📌 Key Takeaways:
✔️ SASSA Gold Cards expire on 28 February 2025—replace yours before then.
✔️ Visit any Postbank Black Card collection site at retailers, Post Offices, or Postbank sites.
✔️ Bring your original ID or temporary ID—no other documents needed.
✔️ Dial *120*218*3# to find the nearest card replacement site.
✔️ There is no fee to switch to a Postbank Black Card.
📞 Need Help? Contact SASSA:
✅ Call: 0800 60 10 11
✅ Website: www.sassa.gov.za
