Tasleem Gierdien25 April 2025 | 6:03

SASSA says beneficiaries can use gold cards indefinitely

Despite the push for beneficiaries to switch to Postbank black cards, Sassa announced that the validity of gold cards has been extended indefinitely.

SASSA says beneficiaries can use gold cards indefinitely

A South African Social Security Agency office in Pretoria. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced that the validity of gold cards has been extended indefinitely.

This means that beneficiaries will be able to continue using their Sassa gold cards for the foreseeable future. 

Grant beneficiaries using Sassa gold cards have faced uncertainty regarding the validity of their cards for months.

Last year, Sassa announced that the cards would be replaced by new Postbank black cards. 

Initially, the agency said the validity of gold cards would be maintained until all beneficiaries were upgraded.

Before the announcement of the validity of Sassa gold cards staying valid, beneficiaries had until the end of February 2025 to switch their gold Sassa cards to Postbank black cards. This deadline was extended to the end of March 2025, which was then extended to the end of May 2025.

Letsatsi explains why the decision was made...

"The intention is to make sure that beneficiaries continue to get what is due to them... whatever problems or whatever happens in terms of the national payment system, it must not affect our beneficiaries. I think everybody agreed that the gold card will operate until such time that everything gets sorted out."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communications - Sassa
"If there are issues between banks and the regulator, they must be resolved, and when they get resolved, they must not affect beneficiaries..."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communications - Sassa

While the switch to Postbank black cards will still happen, Sassa gold card users can still use their cards until all beneficiaries migrate to Postbank black cards. The Sassa gold cards won't expire on a specific date, as previously mentioned.

However, Letsatsi advises beneficiaries to practice safety while using the Sassa gold cards by not giving any personal information over the phone, SMS or WhatsApp, even if the person contacting you claims to be from Sassa. 

"The intention is to make sure that everybody migrates because we mentioned earlier that there are security issues associated with the gold cards that are highly compromised..."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communications - Sassa
"What we want to achieve is that we do not compromise the same people who are supposed to be getting the social grant."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communications - Sassa
"Beneficiaries need to try and stay vigilant... nobody from Sassa will call you to ask for your PIN or ID number... if you get a WhatsApp or SMS asking for your personal details, just delete it or call our toll-free number."
- Paseka Letsatsi, Head of Communications - Sassa