By Phaladi Seakgwe

The South African Social Security Agency held a joint media briefing with South African Post Offices to share with the people and beneficiaries of social grants on progress made on the state of readiness regarding the payment of grants leading up to April 01 2018.

“We are pleased to announce a significant state of readiness for SAPO to commence payments of social grants and assure South Africans that social grants will be paid from 01 April 2018. The relationship between SASSA and SAPO to ensure the smooth implementation of the public sector-led hybrid grants payment model has evolved positively,” said SASSA Acting CEO Pearl Bengu.

SAPO CEO Mark Barnes further said that the post office will commence with the phasing in of processes to ensure that the payment of social grants takes place without interruption as from 01 April 2018 as per service agreement between the two entities.

According to both CEOs, there are a significant number of beneficiaries who have already opened Postbank accounts between January and February and some have already received their payment for March through the Postbank.

The occasion was also used to encourage beneficiaries of social grants to choose a payment option that is convenient to them to receive their grants. The available options to beneficiaries are, cash payments at pay points, through merchants/supermarkets and through personal bank accounts.

Read full statement below:

By Phaladi Seakgwe

The South African Social Security Agency joined the department of Public Works and other stakeholders in WasBank, near Ladysmith, Kwa-Zulu Natal to engage with learners from different schools in the area about its services.

Thuma mina, says the new President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa

Newly elected President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of parliament on 16 February 2018.

President Ramaphosa stressed that this year will be used to reinforce commitment to ethical beahaviour and ethical leadership guided by Nelson Mandela’s example. “Our task, as South Africans, is to seize this moment of hope and renewal, and to work together to ensure that it makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our people”, said the President.

Turning to the importance of social grants in alleviating poverty President Ramaphosa said, social grants remain a vital lifeline for millions of our people living in poverty.

The President used the SoNA to also allay fears to beneficiaries of social grants that no disruption will take place. “I want to personally allay fears of any disruption to the efficient delivery of this critical service, and will take action to ensure no person in government is undermining implementation deadlines set by the court”, he underlined.

Furthermore, he told the Nation that work on the permanent public sector – led hybrid model, which will allow for public and private sector service providers to offer beneficiaries maximum choice, access and convenience is to be finalized.

Generally, the speech also focused on the youth, and outlined initiatives to help them play a role in the mainstream economy, the agricultural sector and boldly highlighted that tourism is going to be jerked up and the country to be positioned as the tourism destination of choice. Great efforts will also be made in ensuring that health, education, corruption, economic transformation, mining and other key sectors are given priority.