Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Minister for Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) CEO, Busisiwe Memela-Khambula, to issue an urgent stay of discontinuation of South African Post Office (SAPO) pay points for two months, while they engage with smaller retailers in rural communities to facilitate grant payments.
DA Shadow Minister of Social Development Bridget Masango said the DA has been inundated by messages from panicked and stressed grant recipients who fear they might not receive their grants this month as many of the big retailers on SASSA’s list have no footprint in their towns. “SASSA must urgently reach out to smaller retailers and ensure that recipients can also access their grants, especially in rural areas.
Masango stressed that SASSA and the Department of Social Development (DSD) must also launch a targeted communication drive to remote and rural areas where many people might not have ready access to mainstream media, and the distribution of second-hand information cause chaos and panic.
“Poor and vulnerable South Africans are routinely sent from pillar to post to gain access to their grants without which they are unable to provide for their families.”
Masango reiterated that in South Africa’s increasingly hostile economic environment,”‘it is inhumane to spring the closure of familiar pay points on grant recipients who already worry every month that they won’t make ends meet.”
