Social grant beneficiaries have been warned this is their last chance to replace old SASSA gold cards with Postbank black cards before the deadline expires at midnight tonight.
The Postbank has issued an urgent final appeal to those who have not yet made the switch, cautioning that SASSA gold cards will stop working once the migration process concludes on 31 August.
Beneficiaries who fail to replace their cards by tonight could face serious disruptions in accessing their social grant payments from tomorrow onwards.
Last-minute rush expected
Thamsanqa Cele, Postbank’s chief commercial officer, said the bank has already noticed a steady increase in queues at card replacement sites as the deadline approaches.
“We are already noticing a steady increase in queues at several of our card replacement sites and based on current trends, we anticipate that queues will become considerably longer,” Cele said.
“Beneficiaries who postpone their visit until then may experience substantial delays due to the expected increase in demand.”
The bank has deployed additional resources to support the card migration programme but is urging beneficiaries to act immediately if they have not yet collected their new cards.
Where to get your card
Postbank black cards are available from selected retailers nationwide, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar stores.
Card replacement sites remain open today until 17:00.
Beneficiaries can dial 120 355# from their mobile phones to locate their nearest replacement site.
The replacement process is completely free, and beneficiaries only need to present a valid South African identity document or temporary ID.
What happens after the deadline
The Postbank warned that SASSA gold cards are being phased out permanently and will no longer function once the migration process is concluded after tonight’s deadline.
Beneficiaries are advised not to visit SASSA offices unnecessarily for enquiries related to gold cards or black cards. Instead, they should visit a nearby Postbank service point or contact the bank’s call centre for assistance with payment-related queries.
The bank’s customer service teams can assist with issues including missed payments, PIN-related queries, lost or stolen cards, card reissues and declined transactions.
Beneficiaries requiring urgent assistance can contact the Postbank’s call centre on 0800 5354 55.
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