The social security agency South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has extended the deadline for beneficiaries to change from gold to black Postbank cards from the 28 February to 20 March.

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi and Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe announced the extension in a joint statement.

Sassa beneficiaries have been urged to make sure that they change to the black Postbank card as soon as they can and well ahead of the 20 March deadline.

Both the ministers emphasised that grant payments will continue as per usual, even after the 20 March deadline and if beneficiaries have not exchanged their cards by then, their grants will still be paid but they will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds.

Mobile offices will also be dispatched in rural areas to assist as many beneficiaries as possible. The upgrade comes with new security features to help protect beneficiaries from fraudsters.

The joint statement on Sassa’s deadline extension:

Deadline for SASSA Card Transition Extended to 20 March 2025 pic.twitter.com/Ojf6KNFO3M

— Dept of Communications & Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) February 14, 2025

VIDEO | Sassa beneficiaries continue to flock to service points to get their cards changed: 

Advocacy Group, Pay the Grants, has welcomed the extension of the deadline.

“This is not the first postponement but it is much needed. It’s actually still short as we at least expected a three-months extension so that beneficiaries can actually go and apply for the card. When it started last year September, the department actually guaranteed that beneficiaries won’t have to rush to exchange the cards, that they will still receive their grants into their Sassa gold cards. It is only last week when Sassa actually changed and gave a deadline. So, I do think we need more time,” says the organisation’s campaign’s Deputy Chairperson, Elizabeth Raiters.