Just when it seemed April 2025 SASSA payments couldn’t get stranger, the South African Post Office (SAPO) has entered the chat. After months of chaotic scrambling to switch SASSA Gold cards to Black, it turns out the former will remain valid until Saturday 31 May 2025.
This completely contradicts the South African Social Security Agency and Postbank’s assertion that Gold cards would no longer function from the start of April. Even more cryptically, SASSA and Postbank reassured affected beneficiaries – many of them elderly and disabled clients – that they could withdraw SASSA grants from any SAPO branch until their cards were migrated.
APRIL 2025 SASSA PAYMENTS
However, late last week, SAPO’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRP) and executive leadership clapped back at SASSA and Postbank. In a press release to the media, SAPO clarified its role and service provision to non-migrated Postbank/SASSA beneficiaries. SAPO revealed that, despite weeks of messaging to the public that said otherwise, no service level agreement between SASSA, Postbank and SAPO exists. Therefore, there is no agreement in place that SAPO branches will assist with social grant payouts of any kind.
Since September 2024, not even half of the affected 3-million SASSA/Postbank clients have been assisted. Clients have gone to great lengths to visit participating outlets, only to wait for hours in queues as systems go offline, new cards run out and there are insufficient staff to handle the demand.
STEER CLEAR OF SAPO
Nevertheless, even with the deadline extension to the end of May, SASSA still urges beneficiaries to switch their cards soon. Because SAPO is not empowered to assist in any way. Whether it be to swap cards, handle withdrawals, or perform PIN resets. “The Post Office continues to handle Mzansi and Flexi card transactional services until the end of May. Social grant beneficiaries should not visit Post Office branches expecting to withdraw any of their SASSA benefits,” confirmed SAPO in their press release.
Important warning to SASSA beneficiaries:
- Gold card and Black card beneficiaries are not to visit Post Office branches expecting to receive grant money.
- There are no funds available at any Post Office branch for withdrawal for beneficiaries.
- Post Office branches are not handling any Gold to Black card conversions
- Mzanzi and Flexi cards holders can continue to use the Post Office branches for normal banking transactions
- Beneficiaries are advised to seek clarification directly from SASSA or Postbank regarding their payment options.
CONTACT SASSA
- SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
- Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
- Email SASSA: [email protected]
- Or email: [email protected]
ARE YOU MORE CONFUSED THAN BEFORE ON THE SASSA POSTBANK CARD SWAP?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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