There is still no clarity on how social grants will be paid out from April, 2017, although it seems likely that that current contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) will be extended.
Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini told media yesterday that grants will be paid from 1 April, but didn’t add any detail, and denied that a contract with CPS has been signed.
She did, however, suggest that there is a plan to move away from the current status quo over the next two years.
“The ultimate goal is that SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) should provide an integrated grant administration and payment process.
“This entails SASSA its own payment card which can operate in an open and closed system underpinned by the use of biometric authentication system.”
Dlamini believes the transition could be accomplished by April 2019