The South African Postbank confirmed that Sassa gold cards will remain valid beyond 31 May 2025. This echoes a statement issued by Sassa earlier this week announcing the indefinite extension of the cards’ validity.
Postbank is pleased to inform social grant beneficiaries that Sassa Gold Cards will continue to work beyond 31 May 2025.
This means beneficiaries can continue using their gold cards to access their grants as usual.
Sassa Gold Cards will continue to work across all payment systems, including ATMs and POS machines.
Black Card Rollout Suspended
While Postbank confirmed the ongoing validity of gold cards, it also announced a temporary suspension of the new black card rollout. No reason was given for halting distribution.
“As the Gold Cards will continue to work and all beneficiaries can continue to use those cards and their Black Cards to access payments, Postbank notifies the beneficiaries that it has put a temporary suspension on the distribution of new Black Cards at its sites until further notice.”
Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe reaffirmed the plan to transition all beneficiaries to black cards eventually, but stressed there would be no disruption in grant access.
In keeping with our commitment that we made—that Postbank will ensure that no beneficiary will be left with no access to their grants and that there will be no disruptions in payment of grants—Gold Cards will continue to work until every beneficiary is transitioned to the new black card.
Beneficiaries who already have black cards will not be affected.
This, however, has no impact on anyone who currently has a Postbank Black Card, as that card will continue to work as per normal.
Background on the Card Uncertainty
Confusion over the future of gold cards began last year when Sassa announced that beneficiaries would be moved to new Postbank black cards. Initially, the gold cards were to remain valid until the transition was complete. However, the agency later stated that the cards would expire at the end of February 2025.
This triggered widespread concern, eventually leading to an extension until March 2025, and later to 31 May. The rollout faced criticism for being slow and chaotic, leaving millions anxious.
In April 2025, Postbank abruptly suspended the black card rollout after the South African Reserve Bank instructed it to ensure gold cards remained operational and all transactions were honoured.
Sassa has reassured beneficiaries that grant payments will not be disrupted and confirmed a new gold card expiry date will be communicated in due course.
The indefinite extension offers much-needed stability to beneficiaries who were unable to upgrade to the new card.
