The Post Office is no longer a collection point for R350 grant payments and this would of course have consequences. Now, government is working on introducing more collection points.
Recently, it was announced that the Post Office would no longer be a collection point for R350 grant payments. The Department of Social Development is now aiming to make more collection points available for beneficiaries.
Currently, grant payments for the Special Relief of Distress (SRD) grant can be paid through a bank account or collected at one of these stores: PicknPay, Boxer, Checkers, USave, Boxer and Shoprite.
During a meeting with the Portfolio Committee, Mr B Van Vrede, Chief Director of Social Assistance for the Department of Social Development acknowledged that there are issues with the retail collection points but said that collecting at a retail store is better than collecting at the Post Office.
With the Post Office no longer disbursing R350 grants, Sassa anticipated that there would be overcrowding in retail stores but has said that it would ease over time.
One reason for this is that Sassa is working on introducing more retail outlets as grant collection points.
Van Vrede said that Sassa has finished an agreement with SPAR to disburse grants with Pep and Spaza shops being next.
There has also been concerns about cash paypoints being problematic as it requires beneficiaries to travel long distances. Introducing more retail collection points would then work towards solving this issue.
It was recently revealed that Sassa could not make R350 grant payments due to the Department finalising a functional verification process in order to ensure that all systems were in place for the disbursement of the grant.
Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele apologised for the period of non-payment and assured people that the government will fulfil their obligations with regard to the payment of the SRD grant.
He said, “But as long as those SRDs are due, in line with the President’s commitment, they will be paid.”
