How to get your SASSA grant without the new Black Card

The deadline for the implementation of SASSA’s (South African Social Security Agency) new black card scheme in South Africa is now very close, but so far only one third of beneficiaries have made the change. While only two days are left for the SASSA gold card to be completely discontinued, more than two million people are still holding out for the black card.

Only 1 million people have switched to the black card so far

According to a report by GroundUp, so far only 1 million SASSA beneficiaries have switched to the new black card, while more than 2.9 million are still using the old gold card. Although SASSA has made it clear that it has no further intention to extend the validity of the gold card, those who do not have the new card can still receive their grants.

According to Postbank, the black card includes some additional benefits, such as:

• Free card replacement once per year
• Three free in-store withdrawals every month
• A free statement at the counter

In total, R200 million has been spent on the transition to the black card, which is a huge investment made to make the scheme a success.

Gold card validity previously extended

The Postbank gold card was previously scheduled to be discontinued from 28 February 2025, but this was extended to 20 March 2025 by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Department of Social Development.

In February, these departments released a joint statement saying:

“We have heard the deep concerns and frustrations of beneficiaries receiving social grants and we believe this extension will provide them with the time they need.”

Slow pace of black card distribution

Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe said more than 30,000 black cards are being issued per day, but still this pace is not enough to cover the 2.9 million beneficiaries on time.

However, those who do not yet have a new card can collect their grants from the following locations:

1. SA Post Offices – Beneficiaries can receive cash by showing their ID.
2. Spar Stores (in the Western Cape) – As part of the partnership between Postbank and the Spar Group, 200 new service sites are being added where beneficiaries can receive their grants even without a card.

Mbengashe added:

“Only three days are left, so we urge all beneficiaries to get their black cards as soon as possible. Your account number will remain the same, but you will no longer be able to receive your grants with the old gold card after the deadline.”

SASSA is at risk of cyber attacks

SASSA is not only facing delays in card transitions but is also becoming an easy target for cybercriminals. A recent investigation revealed that SASSA’s application process and IT systems have several vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

“The agency has transactions worth billions of rands each year but its cybersecurity is extremely weak. They are not even updating their systems regularly,” the report said.

These vulnerabilities could allow several cybercriminals to target beneficiaries’ personal information and grant funds, putting the aid money of countless people at risk.

Will beneficiaries receive new cards on time?

Now that the expiry date of the gold card is extremely close, it will be interesting to see if the remaining over 2 million beneficiaries will be able to receive their black cards on time. If not, will SASSA be able to provide all of them with their grants without any hindrance?

At the moment, SASSA has engaged the SA Post Office and major retailers to make this transition a success, but until all beneficiaries have fully switched to the new black card, this uncertainty will continue.

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