SASSA social grant payouts on track for 1 April
Measures have been put in place to ensure the payment of benefits at SASSA pay points, merchants, banks and ATMs across the country.
PAYMENTS of social grants to all qualifying recipients on 1 April is well on track. That’s the assurance from Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini who also offered her unreserved apology to all social grant recipients for the anxiety and fear they may have experienced around the uncertainty of payment of grants on 1 April.
Measures have been put in place to ensure the payment of benefits at SASSA pay points, merchants, banks and ATMs across the country. However, the minister’s spokesperson, Ms Lumka Oliphant, said because 1 April fell on a Saturday, SASSA pay points would not be open for business, but that special focus and provision would be made for the busiest merchants, points of sale, banks and ATMs. She said managers would also be deployed to monitor and assist beneficiaries with enquiries.
SASSA pay points would operate as normal on 3 April. and social grant recipients are encouraged to visit their respective SASSA pay points which are indicated on the slips they would have received last month. Teams of managers will also be deployed to provide assistance at the pay points.
Other measures which have been put in place are:
– The SASSA call centre will be opened to assist beneficiaries with all enquiries. The contact number is 0800 60 10 11
– Senior Officials will be deployed at the call centre to make sure that all enquiries are attended to
– Officials will also be on standby to receive calls that may come through the switchboard
– Arrangements have been made to ensure that SOCPEN is available for investigation and verification of the status of the grants applications
– A letter to the National Police Commissioner has been sent out for a request to increase police visibility across the country
Oliphant said the department was adamant that it would be business at usual on 1 April and that any form of lapsing or suspensions that may occur did not imply a failure to pay by SASSA.
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