Post office urges grant beneficiaries to wait for SMS confirmation
Beneficiaries receive two SMS messages, the first tells them they are approved and the second tells them when the money is ready for collection.
THE South African Post Office (SAPO) has urged grant beneficiaries not to visit the post office until their grant is ready for collection.
This as people flock to the Redhill Post Office to collect their Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant.
A crowd forms as people queue around the block for hours amid the Covid-19 pandemic when social distancing is key.
KZN spokesperson for SAPO, Nobuhle Njapha, said increasing numbers of people flock to post offices once they receive an SMS telling them that their grant has been approved.
Also read: More than 4 million Covid-19 grants approved
“This often leads to disappointment as the beneficiaries are turned away when their grant has actually not been paid over to SAPO. Beneficiaries receive two SMS messages. The first tells them when they are approved and the second tells them when the money is ready for collection,” said Njapha.
In case you missed it:‘Many Covid-19 grant applicants don’t meet criteria,’ says SASSA
“We advise beneficiaries to visit their nearest post office only when they have received the second SMS,” she added.
The Department of Social Development has received 7 558 555 applications for the special grant. In a statement, Minister, Lindiwe Zulu R1 billion was paid out in May toward the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant which has seen a total of 4 424 720 applications approved.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532. 
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
