As of this morning, over 2.6 million beneficiaries accessed their social grants natiowide, so says the Department of Social Development.
This follows growing concern that the department entity, the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA), through its payments distributor Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), will not be able to make payments on time.
Last month, the Constitutional Court ordered the extension of the current invalid CPS social grants payments contract for another 12 months. The extension would ensure that millions of the country's most vulnerable citizens receive their payments on 1 April.
Government pays social grants to 17 million beneficiaries including pensioners, children and people with disabilities every month.
In a statement, the department says social grants payments are underway across the country for beneficiaries who receive their grants through ATMs and merchants.
According to the statement, social development minister Bathabile Dlamini, MECs, local government leaders and various SASSA officials are on the ground countrywide responding to queries and monitoring the payments.
"Government wishes to remind beneficiaries who receive their grants at pay points that they will receive their grants as normal from Monday, 03 April 2017. Additionally we urge beneficiaries to use the official SASSA branded card to access their social grants," reads the statement.
Dlamini adds: "Government remains committed to improving the living conditions of poor, vulnerable and underprivileged South Africans. The social assistance programme remains an important safety net for millions of South Africans."
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