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The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP met with the MECs responsible for Social Development, Regional Executive Managers of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Executives of the National Development Agency (NDA) today to brief them on progress regarding the institutionalisation of the social grants payment system within the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beyond 31st March 2017 when the current contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) expires.

The meeting noted and acknowledged the negotiations currently underway between The Department of Social Development, SASSA, the National Treasury and CPS regarding a transitional arrangement while the Agency is putting in place all necessary measures to become a paymaster of social grants in South Africa as envisaged in the South African Social Security Act (SASSA), Act 9 of 2004. The Act establishes SASSA as the agent for the administration and payment of social assistance, social security and related services. 

The meeting recommended that the Department of Social Development, together with SASSA and the NDA embark on a nationwide public and stakeholder engagement campaign to allay public fear and anxiety surrounding the payment of social grants beyond 31 March 2017. The Department of Social Development would like to engage citizens on the issues that concern them most in the interest of providing an inclusive social protection system.

The meeting reiterated Government’s assurance that all eligible social grants beneficiaries will receive their money on time. The meeting further committed itself to working with and supporting all the critical steps that SASSA outlined in the institutionalisation of the social grants payment process.

The Minister of Social Development also wishes to inform South Africa that SASSA has filed its supplementary progress report to the Constitutional Court today (March 2, 2017).

Issued by GCIS