It’s no joke – grant beneficiaries dread April 1 after Sassa contract ends

MILLIONS of social grant beneficiaries remain deeply worried about what will happen at the South African Social Security Agency’s grant collection points come April 1.

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Many, dependent on the grant, fear they may return home empty-handed when contracts of Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) and Net1 come to an end on March 31.

Sassa officials were expected to file papers with the Constitutional Court to request an urgent extension of CPS and Net1 services after its announcement that it was unable to take over social grant payments as instructed by the ConCourt in 2014, but that, surprisingly, did not happen.

In 2014, the ConCourt declared CPS and Net1 contracts invalid, citing irregularities in the tender awarding processes.

Sassa then decided it would move the process of grant payments in house.

In January, Sassa announced that it was ready to take on the the task. However, earlier this month the agency withdrew the statement and announced that it was unable to take over social grants as it ‘needed more time to finalise takeover matters’.

According to reports, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan made recommendations to Sassa about the tender being awarded to the post office and banks.

However, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlaminisaid CPS was still the safest option as banks were only driven by profits and did not have biometric systems in place.

Minister Dlamini has assured grant receivers that they will be paid on time despite the legal matter at hand.

In a statement issued by her department recently, the minister said it was her responsibility to decide which options will ensure that social grant beneficiaries receive their social grants on April 1 ‘without interruption’.

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