Post Office ready to distribute social grants
The South African Post Office (SAPO) says it is ready to assist the South African Social Security Agency in distributing social grants come 1 April 2018.
In a joint media briefing between SASSA and SAPO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Barnes says SAPO is ready.
"The Post Office is ready to play its role in the payment of social grants. SAPO will commence with the phasing in of and processes to ensure that the payment of social grants does take place without interruption from the 1st of April as per the agreement that we entered into with SASSA," says Barnes.
The Post Office has also stated that it is ready to open the accounts for SASSA beneficiaries from 3 April 2018.
SASSA Acting CEO, Pearl Bhengu says beneficiaries using the old SASSA cards have until 30 September 2018 to use them.
"We will soon introduce the new SASSA cards via the Post Office and beneficiaries will be informed about the process to be followed."
"The new card will be progressively introduced over the period from April to 30 September 2018, when it is expected that the current SASSA card will no longer be in circulation," adds Bhengu.
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However, SASSA will still need the services of Cash Payment Service (CPS) until September 2018, to help in distributing social grants.
This according to SASSA is for the 2,8 million social grant beneficiaries who are paid in cash at SASSA pay points.
Bhengu says this is where the department requires the most support.
"It is for the actual distribution of cash where SASSA still requires support."
"It is for this reason that SASSA brought a limited application to the Constitutional Court with the intention of asking the court to suspend the invalidity declaration of its contract with CPS for six month," adds Bhengu.
According to SASSA, the extension would ensure that a proper phase in - phase out or hand over process happens between CPS an SAPO.
The Constitutional Court's ruling is still pending.