On 9 February 2023, the South African Post Office (Sapo) was placed under provisional liquidation following a court application by a creditor owed for rent.
According to the Post Office's most recent financial statements for 2021/2022 to end-March 2022, the state owned enterprise owed more than R4.4bn to creditors and its debt exceeded its assets by R4 billion.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has assured social grant beneficiaries that they will still receive their grants despite the Post Office facing liquidation.
In an interview, Sassa's spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi confirmed:
The government agency will do everything in its power to make sure that the beneficiaries get what is due to them.
The government agency is engaging other stakeholders and also taking necessary steps to engaging the Post Office itself in finding a solution.
Sassa’s interventions are meant to protect social grant beneficiaries even if the Post Office gets to the point of being liquidated.
Social grant beneficiaries that might be affected by this are individuals that want to make over-the-counter deposits or withdrawals.
Letsatsi has emphasised that beneficiaries don’t necessarily have to withdraw their grant funds at the Post Office, but there are multiple payment channels that they can utilise.
The multiple payment channels that social grant recipients may use include retail stores such as Shoprite, Usave, Checkers, Boxer, and Pick ‘n Pay. Alternatively, grant holders may also use bank ATMs.
Sassa clients may also avoid long queues and payment mishaps by switching their grant payments, free of charge, to the Shoprite Money Market Account.
Here’s How Sassa Grant Payments Can Be Withdrawn
Sassa grants are paid out through bank transfers. Grant beneficiaries may choose to receive their money either into their personal bank accounts or at the Post Bank and also selected retail stores.
Additionally, Sassa also provides grant holders with a payment card which they can use to withdraw their funds, and make purchases.
