The Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services has welcomed a report from the South African Post Office (Sapo) that it is ready to pay social grants for the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) by 1 April 2018.

It is ready with the following: opening corporate holding and special disbursement accounts; integrated payment solution; card body production and distribution; and biometric engine for biometric on-boarding of new and existing beneficiaries as well as biometric authentication of beneficiaries.

“It is comforting that Sapo has been able to give us assurance that come the due date (1 April 2018), all beneficiaries will receive their payments without a glitch. Nevertheless, the Committee will monitor the project closely and be updated about achievements and challenges, starting with the production of the first two million cards by March 2018,” said Mr Jabu Mahlangu, the Chairperson the Committee.

The Sapo Group Chief Operation Officer (GCOO), Ms Lindiwe Kwele, said the entity is on course to produce a total of 10. 6 million Sassa-branded bank cards by June 2018. She further said that migration of beneficiaries to Postbank accounts has commenced and is being prioritised and monitored weekly.

The Committee has emphasised the importance of an integrated communication strategy for the project, which should be tailored for the beneficiaries, in order to avoid mixed messages. 

 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Committee Chairperson, Jabu Mahlangu