Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Tuesday he was "fairly confident" social security payments will be paid on 1 April.
JOHANNESBURG – The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has missed its own deadline to reveal the new service provider for the payment of social grants.
Sassa was expected to make an official announcement for the new payment service.
eNCA | MPs brace for another Sassa crisis in 7 months' time https://t.co/EFq6lfESpc pic.twitter.com/W5ugZcDIfh
— eNCA (@eNCA) August 15, 2017
In March‚ the Constitutional Court extended the invalid contract with Cash Paymaster Services to March 2018, to give Sassa time to find other service providers.
The Post Office has been approached, and officials there believe it can handle grant payments to 11-million recipients.
#sapsGP Members of Project Sephooko investigating SASSA fraud arrested 5 more suspects for fraud. SWhttps://t.co/DgJ4x5L5KN pic.twitter.com/tJfPgBEQcr
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) September 25, 2017
Earlier this year Sassa was being questioned by Corruption Watch as it was riddled with legal challenges.
Sassa’s readiness to make timely pay-outs have plagued the organisation.
eNCA | Sassa acting CEO’s alleged links to Dlamini concern opposition https://t.co/9sNCnmM2HS pic.twitter.com/wx8s9lfKUO
— eNCA (@eNCA) July 22, 2017
Sassa’s contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), that distributes R10-billion necessary social grants, had expired a few months ago.