Sassa calls for caution at grant pay points
Pay points are not the only social grant payment outlets. To avoid long queues, beneficiaries are also advised to use stores or merchants and ATMs to withdraw their grants or use their cards to swipe for purchasing goods.
SOCIAL grant clients are advised to utilise their nearest pay points when collecting their various social grants.
This comes after the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) observed overcrowding at various pay points. In a statement, the agency said this was part of ensuring that queues are well managed and the spread of Covid-19 is curbed.
“Beneficiaries are urged to always observe placed protocols at all times which include wearing masks, sanitising hands, and observing social distancing. It is also in the interest of the beneficiaries to use their nearest pay point instead of collecting their grants far from their homesteads, as this will be saving them travel costs and also help minimise the spread of Covid-19,” the statement advises.
Pay points are not the only social grant payment outlets. To avoid long queues, beneficiaries are also advised to use stores or merchants and ATMs to withdraw their grants or use their cards to swipe for purchasing goods.
“South Africa is currently experiencing rising numbers of Covid-19 infections and unfortunate deaths. It is therefore critical for the agency to take extra precautions, which is why we urge our clients to utilise nearby pay points and avoid long queues,” said CEO, Totsie Memela.
For their own safety, she added, beneficiaries are advised to avoid large groups of people and rather wait for quiet times to access their grants.
“Social grant monies are guaranteed to remain safe in the beneficiaries’ cards. They may use it as they require and not necessarily on the first day of payment. SASSA services continue, with strict standards and measures put in place to protect citizens and staff,” she said.
