Latest news with #SASSAGoldCards
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Scammers impersonate Postbank officials to rob SASSA grant beneficiaries
Postbank warns SASSA social grant beneficiaries about a surge in scams where fraudsters impersonate officials to steal grant cards and PIN information for black and gold cards. Image: File Brazen scammers are impersonating Postbank officials and entering the homes of SASSA social grant beneficiaries in an effort to rob them of their money. This is according to Postbank spokesperson Bongani Diako, who on Friday urged SASSA social grant beneficiaries using its Black Cards and SASSA Gold Cards to be wary of the rise in fraud scams targeting their cards and PIN information. 'The recent scam involves fraudsters impersonating Postbank officials and targeting social beneficiaries in their homes. The beneficiaries are then duped into handing over their Postbank grant cards and PIN information under the pretext that there is something that requires fixing on the cards; or fear is instilled in them that they will not receive their future grant payments if they don't hand over their card's PIN information,' said Diako. Postbank assured beneficiaries that there is nothing that requires fixing on any of its Black Cards and SASSA Gold Cards, and that both cards will continue to work beyond 31 May 2025 for the payments of their grants. 'Beneficiaries are also reminded that they should not listen to anyone that tells them to change their SASSA Gold Cards or Postbank Black Cards to other banks' payment methods, even if they are advised to do so by government officials,' said Diako. Diako appealed to beneficiaries to stay alert and vigilant. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said even if people are wearing what may appear to be Postbank uniforms or branded cars, beneficiaries will be able to identify imposters if they show up unannounced or without an appointment. 'Postbank will never visit your home unless you have requested that through the necessary home visit channels. Beneficiaries should always remember that their cards and PINs are personal keys to their money. They should never give them to anyone,' he said. For any enquiries, customers can contact Postbank on 0800 53 54 55.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Are SASSA beneficiaries losing money by switching to personal bank accounts?
A growing number of SASSA beneficiaries are opting to receive their grants through personal bank accounts. Image: Nokuthula Mbatha/ Independent Newspapers. The North West Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development has raised serious concerns over the growing trend of social grant beneficiaries opting to receive their payments through personal bank accounts, a move that could be costing them a portion of their much-needed support. During an oversight meeting held with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department of Social Development, Committee members were briefed on the migration from the traditional SASSA Gold Cards to the newly introduced Postbank Black Cards. The migration was prompted by a South African Reserve Bank (SARB) directive following a security breach involving the Gold Cards. However, it emerged that SARB has now suspended the migration process indefinitely. Beneficiaries are currently permitted to continue using their existing SASSA Gold Cards beyond the original May 31 deadline, a shift the Committee believes must be communicated to avoid panic and confusion. "People were rushing to switch cards, some even under pressure. Now, they need clarity and reassurance that their current cards are still functional. You need to ensure that this is communicated widely,' urged Committee Chairperson, Hon. Karabo Magagane. The Committee expressed deep concern over SASSA's revelation that 43,945 grant recipients have chosen to bypass both the SASSA Gold Card and the Postbank Black Card systems, instead opting for direct bank payments. While this may offer perceived convenience, the Committee fears that the associated transaction fees at commercial banks are quietly eroding the actual value of the grants. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'These beneficiaries may not realise that they are losing money to transaction fees and service charges, funds that are meant to support their most basic needs,' Hon. Magagane cautioned. Further compounding the financial strain, Committee members highlighted the informal deductions being imposed by some local retailers. Local tuck shops reportedly charge R10 for every R100 withdrawn, a surcharge that further reduces the amount of money recipients receive. 'This completely defeats the purpose of a social grant. A grant is supposed to alleviate poverty, not get eaten up by unnecessary charges,' one member stated. The Committee also slammed the limited number of Postbank conversion sites in the North West. Currently, only 12 sites are operational across the province, a situation described as 'grossly inadequate,' particularly for elderly beneficiaries living in remote areas. "Many of our elderly citizens live far from these centres and are not in a position to travel long distances just to access a card. This could be a driving factor behind the shift to personal bank accounts," said Hon. Magagane. In response to the pressing challenges, the Committee pledged to intensify its engagement with SASSA and Postbank, the two State-Owned Entities tasked with grant disbursement, to push for more accessible service points, better communication, and increased public awareness. "We are committed to ensuring that no beneficiary is left behind. We will push for ongoing awareness campaigns, improved accessibility, and sustained outreach efforts so that every grant recipient understands their options and the implications of each," Hon. Magagane said. The Committee is expected to reconvene in the coming weeks to assess progress and implementation of the proposed solutions. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The South African
28-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
All the fuss for nothing: NO rush to switch to Postbank Black Cards
Great news for millions of South African grant beneficiaries is that SASSA Gold Cards will remain operational beyond 31 May 2025, ensuring uninterrupted access to social grants. The announcement made last week, comes as a relief for beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to the new Postbank Black Cards, putting an end to any uncertainty about payment disruptions. In a statement, Postbank reassured users that Gold Cards will continue to function across all payment platforms, including ATMs, retail stores, and POS devices. This means beneficiaries can still withdraw cash, make purchases, and access their funds as usual – no immediate switch is required. 'We remain committed to ensuring no beneficiary is left without access to their grants,' said Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe. 'In keeping with our commitment that we made that Postbank will ensure that no beneficiary will be left with no access to their grants and that there will be no disruptions in payments of grants, Gold Cards will continue to work until every beneficiary is transitioned to the new black card. 'We are therefore hopeful and confident that this announcement addresses any concern relating to the payments of any beneficiaries that may not have yet obtained their Black Cards,' Mbengashe, explained. The CEO advised social grant beneficiaries to ignore any call that they must change banks, as this is unnecessary. 'We plead with them to be wary of misleading information that their Gold Cards will not work and that they need to change banks because of this,' she said. Beneficiaries are also asked to always only respond to Postbank published communication when it comes to their SASSA Gold Cards and the Black Cards, as the only authorised entity that is responsible for the issuing of these cards. Beneficiaries are further advised that whenever they come across any information regarding their cards that has not been communicated by Postbank, they should not believe what is being said. Postbank said this will prevent beneficiaries from being misled as the entity observes increased amounts of incorrect information being communicated about the SASSA cards recently. 'As the Gold Cards will continue to work and all beneficiaries can continue to use those cards and their Black Cards to access payments, Postbank notifies the beneficiaries that it has put a temporary suspension of the distribution of new Black Cards in its sites until further notice. 'This, however, has no impact on anyone who currently has a Postbank Black Card, as that card will continue to work as per normal,' the entity said. The Postbank card distribution sites, however, will remain open and available to beneficiaries to access the following services: • PIN resets• Reissuing of Black Cards for any beneficiary that has experienced a lost/stolen card incident • Beneficiaries seeking to register for the cardless payment alternative
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Choose how to receive your SASSA grant payments
Many people in South Africa depend on their grants to buy food, pay for transport and take care of their families. As SASSA Gold Cards must now be replaced, millions of grant recipients must choose how they will get their grant money paid in future, said executive head at EasyPay Everywhere, Simphiwe Phakathi. 'SASSA has advised grant recipients to apply at the bank of their choice, as Postbank black card issuing has been suspended.' According to Phakathi, the SASSA Gold Card was expected to stop working after March 20 this year but the deadline was extended to May 31. 'SASSA has since advised that the issuing of Postbank black cards has been suspended and urged grant recipients to instead apply at a bank of their choice to receive future payments. That gives people a little more time, but with over 1 million grant recipients still needing to switch cards, there's no time to waste. Many are worried they will not be able to get their grants after the deadline, and they are still not sure what to do. Others are wondering if there's an easier way to keep receiving their grant money without all this stress.' Don't panic – you have options 'As a grant recipient, you can choose how to get your grant money paid each month, and this is even more important following the Postbank card issuing suspension. 'You can choose to have your grant paid into any banking account – so make the choice that's right for you. Think about important aspects of your banking product like fees, access to service and support and other financial products you may need down the line. 'Many grant recipients who have chosen a banking option like EasyPay Everywhere say it gives them more control over their money. They don't have to rush to withdraw all their money at once and they can use their account whenever they need to, just like any other banking customer. 'With an EasyPay Everywhere bank account you are empowered to withdraw your money from any ATM or at many shops; swipe your card at till to pay for things instead of carrying cash; check your balance using a cellphone app or a USSD code; and get SMS notifications when your grant is paid. Furthermore, you can also access other services like EasyPay Loans and EasyPay Insurance, which help you manage your money better and plan for emergencies. 'Choosing the right banking partner means you can keep using the same account every month without worrying about future changes to the grant payment system. It gives you peace of mind and makes things easier.' Choose what's best for you Phakathi said everyone has different needs and it's important that grant recipients know they have options. 'You can choose a banking partner that understands your needs and will help you access the solutions you need in future. 'Know your rights and choose the option that fits your life. Don't delay. Make sure you make your choice before the 31 May 2025 deadline.' If you want to switch to EasyPay Everywhere, you can visit any EasyPay Everywhere branch near you or visit them online at or SMS 38131 for a callback.
The South African
26-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
SASSA Gold Cards to continue working beyond 31 May 2025
Postbank has confirmed that South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Gold Cards will continue to work beyond 31 May 2025. In a statement, Postbank said grant beneficiaries with Gold Cards will continue to be paid their SASSA grants in those cards until further notice, which is great news for beneficiaries that have not yet migrated to Postbank Black Cards. According to Postbank, SASSA Gold Cards will continue to work across all payment systems, including ATMs and POS machines. Beneficiaries can continue to withdraw cash at all Postbank's partner retail stores and can continue swiping for purchases. This means that the Gold Cards will continue to work as they do now, even after 31 May 2025. 'In keeping with our commitment that we made that Postbank will ensure that no beneficiary will be left with no access to their grants and that there will be no disruptions in payments of grants, Gold Cards will continue to work until every beneficiary is transitioned to the new black card. 'We are therefore hopeful and confident that this announcement addresses any concern relating to the payments of any beneficiaries that may not have yet obtained their Black Cards,' Postbank CEO, Nikki Mbengashe, explained. The CEO advised social grant beneficiaries to ignore any call that they must change banks, as this is unnecessary. 'We plead with them to be wary of misleading information that their Gold Cards will not work and that they need to change banks because of this,' she said. Beneficiaries are also asked to always only respond to Postbank published communication when it comes to their SASSA Gold Cards and the Black Cards, as the only authorised entity that is responsible for the issuing of these cards. Beneficiaries are further advised that whenever they come across any information regarding their cards that has not been communicated by Postbank, they should not believe what is being said. Postbank said this will prevent beneficiaries from being misled as the entity observes increased amounts of incorrect information being communicated about the SASSA cards recently. 'As the Gold Cards will continue to work and all beneficiaries can continue to use those cards and their Black Cards to access payments, Postbank notifies the beneficiaries that it has put a temporary suspension of the distribution of new Black Cards in its sites until further notice. 'This, however, has no impact on anyone who currently has a Postbank Black Card, as that card will continue to work as per normal,' the entity said. The Postbank card distribution sites, however, will remain open and available to beneficiaries to access the following services: • PIN resets.• Reissuing of Black Cards for any beneficiary that has experienced a lost/stolen card incident. • Beneficiaries seeking to register for the cardless payment alternative.
