Social grants beneficiaries in the province can breathe a sigh of relief following confirmation by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) that beneficiaries have already started receiving what is due to them by Friday.
There were uncertainties that payouts would not be made on time after it emerged that the Department of Social Development could not seal a deal with the new service provider to take over from Cash Paymaster Services (CPS). The Constitutional Court extended CPS’s contract with tye agency to 12 months to ensure that social grants beneficiaries get paid on time.
According to Sassa Limpopo spokesperson, Norman Kutama everything is back on track and beneficiaries in the province began receiving their payments on Friday.
He said they had made a promise that citizens will receive their payments by 1 April and hence they are keeping the promise.
He further said, “We are monitoring all the pay points to ensure that everything goes accordingly. Acting Social Development MEC Phophi Ramathuba visited a number of pay points in Burgersfort over the weekend and also went to Lebowakgomo Civic Centre on today (Monday) to witness beneficiaries receiving their grants.”
Kutama added that payments were available electronically starting from Friday and grants were paid as promised at the usual pay points starting from today.
Social Development Spokesperson, Adele van der Linde emphasised that some glitches were experienced at ATMs over the weekend and social grants beneficiaries could not withdraw but at the same time assured that the matter had been resolved.
Van der Linde said this was a national issue. She further said Ramathuba’s visits were mainly to check on various pay points and make sure they are operational and residents received their money.
When asked if there any robberies had been reported she said, “Luckily none of our cash-in-transit vehicles were robbed. We were also worried that criminals might target our vehicles but we were fortunate. The MEC is very happy with the payout process and believes that things will stay the same.”
According to Van der Linde 1 300 beneficiaries received their grants at Lebowakgomo Civic Centre during Ramathuba’s visit. She added that both the department and the agency would continue to monitor the pay outs to ensure that beneficiaries are able to put food on the table for their families.
Kutama said the 2, 499, 554 social grants beneficiaries in the province were being served by 8008 pay points.
Story: Endy Senyatsi
>>endy@observer.co.za
