The deadline for SASSA beneficiaries to replace their old gold cards with new Postbank black cards has passed, but some beneficiaries in the community say they are still struggling to complete the migration.
The deadline was 31 August 2026, with Postbank warning that beneficiaries who had not migrated by then could face difficulties accessing their social grant payments.
But for some beneficiaries, the delay has not been a matter of simply ignoring the deadline.
Some say they previously attempted to replace their cards but were unable to complete the process because of challenges at migration sites and problems with the system.
Others say the cost of transport has made it difficult to make repeated trips to card replacement points.
For beneficiaries who rely on their grants to put food on the table and cover other household expenses, making several trips can be a financial burden.
Some have therefore opted to wait until their usual grant collection day, hoping to use the opportunity to complete the card migration while collecting their money.
The concerns come amid reports of beneficiaries elsewhere in the country experiencing challenges with the migration process.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development recently raised concerns about beneficiaries, particularly older people and people with disabilities, who were struggling to navigate the replacement process or travel to card replacement sites.
What happens after the deadline?
Postbank has clarified that beneficiaries who missed the 31 August deadline will not lose their grants.
According to Postbank, grant payments will continue to be made into beneficiaries’ accounts.
However, beneficiaries who have not migrated will need to obtain a black card before they can access the money.
Postbank also said its card replacement sites would remain open after the deadline to assist beneficiaries who still need to migrate.
The migration is free, and beneficiaries can obtain their black cards at participating retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar.
Beneficiaries can also dial *120*355# from a cellphone to locate their nearest card replacement site.
For beneficiaries who have already attempted the process without success, however, the question remains whether they will be able to complete the migration without facing the same challenges.
Have you struggled to replace your SASSA gold card?
Tell Komati News Flash about your experience.
Have you been turned away, experienced system problems, or had difficulty affording transport to a migration site?
Your experience could help us understand how the card migration is affecting beneficiaries in our community.
Send us a WhatsApp: wa.me/27769330156 (Whatsapp line)
Komati News Flash
