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Long queues as Sassa pays out grants

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The police were seen at some shopping complexes, where they ensured that people in queues kept at least one metre apart.

LONG queues have formed at ATM machines and supermarkets in the city as old age and disability grants are being paid out on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of all other social grants which will be paid on Wednesday. 

Payment at pay points will start on Friday (April 3).  

The queue at the post office Sassa collection point was, however, relatively short and beneficiaries were able to collect their grants quickly. 

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) stated that it had deposited around R1 million for grant allocations at post offices, ATMs and retail stores on Monday morning. 

One local disability grant beneficiary, Magdeline Motlhabane, said she travelled from Galeshewe to collect her grant at a supermarket in town after 9.30am with her own transport. 

“I was immediately taken to the front of the queue as I am wheelchair-bound and the process was very quick,” she said. 

Meanwhile, long queues are snaking down streets and around corners in the CBD, while chairs have been placed at shopping malls for people to sit on as they wait to be allowed into supermarkets.

The police were seen at some shopping complexes, where they ensured that people in queues kept at least one metre apart. 

One shopper indicated that she had left the house at 5am to buy her groceries and was left waiting for hours to get to the front of the queue.  

Some people had to first stand in ATM queues before proceeding to the shopping queues. 

Sassa has instructed that priority be given to the elderly and the disabled at all pay points and has advised beneficiaries not to withdraw their money on the first day of payment and to avoid overcrowded areas.

Beneficiaries have also been advised to make use of their Sassa cards to swipe instead of paying with cash. 

Public transport restrictions have been relaxed to allow the transport of social grant beneficiaries from 5am until 8pm from Monday until Friday (March 30 until April 3).

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