The Department of Social Development said Friday that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) was on track with their payment of social grants.
The Department said that Minister, Bathabile Dlamini, instructed SASSA to open the file to pay social grants at 11am Friday with a limited number of beneficiaries being notified that their April social grant was available for withdrawal.
The Department said that within an hour of notification more 25 000 beneficiaries had withdrawn their money at ATMs around the country and by 4pm Friday 650 000 beneficiaries had withdrawn their grants.
On Saturday, Minister Dlamini will be visiting merchants in Burgersfort, Limpopo Province.
The Department of Social Development has meanwhile unveiled measures that were put in place as of 1 April.
These include that the SASSA call centre will be opened to assist beneficiaries with all enquiries. The contact number is 0800 60 10 11.
Senior Officials will be deployed at the call centre to make sure that all enquiries are attended to while police have been asked to increase visibility across the country.
The Department of Social Development said that “that normal business processes will continue” adding that “any form of lapsing or suspensions that may occur may not imply a failure to pay grants by SASSA.”
Dlamini also repeated her apology for the anxiety and fear caused about the uncertainty around the payment of social grants.
