The South African Social Security Agency has promised the country’s social grant beneficiaries that their payments will not be delayed or impacted by the current card migration.

This was shared by SASSA’s Acting CEO Themba Matlou at a media briefing held in Pretoria, on Monday. SASSA and its partner Postbank hosted the conference ahead of Thursday’s deadline for its card transition. From 20 March, the SASSA gold cards will cease to work, as beneficiaries migrate to using the new Postbank black cards, or opt to have their money paid directly into their bank accounts.

“We want to assure beneficiaries that it is in the interest of all of us that post 20 March, everyone will get their money. There won’t be any beneficiary who will not receive their payment. This is the commitment we are making as the two entities,” said a confident Matlou.

According to Matlou, 19 million South Africans rely on social grants.

[WATCH] Post Bank CEO Ntomboxolo Mbengashe says the March 20 deadline to switch to the new black card doesn’t mean they will stop issuing cards after that. However, she warns that social grant recipients who will not have switched to the new card must not attempt to use the old… pic.twitter.com/N9rTUNq0pR

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 17, 2025

Around 1.5 million social grant beneficiaries are still required to replace their SASSA gold cards with the new Postbank black cards. In a bid to clear up any confusion, Postbank CEO Ntomboxolo Mbengashe explained what the deadline means.

CARD WILL STILL BE ISSUED AFTER 20 MARCH 

“There has been some confusion around it and I think it would be foolish of us not to emphasize the point today. The 20th of March only means one thing. It means that the SASSA yellow or gold card will no longer be working. We are pleading with all beneficiaries to please not attempt to use this card post the 20th of March to access their grant. Your account number does not change. Your grant will still go into your bank account, but the ability to access this bank account with the gold card will cease as of the 20th of March,” said Mbengashe.

However, she expressed that the 20th of March does not mean that new cards will no longer be issued.

“Postbank will continue to issue cards even post the 20th of March. In fact, even at the end of March, into April, we will continue to issue cards,” Mbengashe clarified.

READ MORE: SASSA grant beneficiaries experience issues with new Postbank cards