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Despite teething problems experienced in some areas in KwaZulu-Natal during the first two days set aside to pay social grants to older people and people with disabilities, the payments of grants were largely successful.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) brought the social grants payment dates forward and set aside 30 – 31 March 2020 as special days for older people and people with disabilities, due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown which aims to contain and mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa.

The payment of social grants highlights the importance of providing safety net for the poor and vulnerable amid what has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

KZN SASSA spokesperson Sandy Godlwana said that SASSA officials were deployed to the South African Post Office (SAPO) outlets and retail outlets to monitor payments and to ensure that social distancing of about one metre was adhered to.

Godlwana said that a total of 195 Post Office outlets across the province were utilised to pay social grants, and the payments commenced by 07:30am in most SAPO outlets and merchant stores.

She said that huge numbers were experienced at all available retail and SAPO outlets across the province, where beneficiaries were queueing to get their payments early.

“SAPO ensured that they complied with the hygiene standards, by ensuring all beneficiaries were sanitized, and in many instances did adhere to social distancing,” Godlwana said.

However, Godlwana said it proved very difficult to maintain the social distancing outside the confines of the Post Offices and at retail outlets, especially in queues that snaked along the building.

This was due to a number of Child Support Grant recipients, who presented themselves for payments, which further increased number and made it difficult to maintain adequate social distancing.

“By midday we had an average of about 13 outlets that had completely run out [of funds] and nine were very low on funds. This was the order of the day as by midday close to 60 outlets were out of cash. Shortly thereafter we also experienced the system going down which [was] later restored, although some reversals were experienced during this time,” Godlwana said.

Micro-lending company directors arrested

In Howick, Godlwana said four micro-lending company directors were arrested on Monday, after being caught in possession of about 724 SASSA cards and Identity Documents of beneficiaries.

“The suspects were arrested for contravention of NCA (National Credit Act) in conjunction with Social Assistance Act. The accused are out on R5000 bail each,” Godlwana said.

The second day of payment proceeded well with most payment sites completing payments, as per schedule, and all beneficiaries received their monies.

“Outlets that had ‘run out’ of cash the previous day [Monday] received cash and prioritised payment to beneficiaries who had not received cash on day 1. Social distancing was better managed compared to day 1, and we still saw large numbers of beneficiaries at SAPO outlets including Child Support Grant beneficiaries,” Godlwana said.

Condolences to family of grant recipient

Meanwhile, SASSA has expressed its sincere apologies and condolences to the family of grant recipient at a Hammersdale Post Office. The deceased, Thembisile Mavis Njapa, collapsed on Monday while in a queue to get her grant.

“She was assisted and placed in a wheelchair and taken to a holding area. By the time the ambulance arrived, she was declared dead. The family was located and arranged to move the beneficiary to the funeral parlour.

“A social worker was dispatched by Department of Social Development to the house on 31 March 2020.  We are reliably informed that Assupol has volunteered to assist with the funeral. SASSA will make a determination on any other assistance like Social Relief of Distress to the family,” Dlongwana said.

Over 1000 South Africans are stranded in various countries around the world, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said on Tuesday.

“The most recent data that we have suggests that we may have 1 471 South Africans stranded across the world.  Of this number, 723 are students, 204 people who are workers, 224 tourists, 320 who haven’t disclosed. I cannot say that these numbers are 100 % accurate as it is based on people who have approached us for assistance through our missions and consular services,” said the Minister.

The Minister made these remarks at a briefing held at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in Pretoria.

The Minister’s comments came as South Africa entered the fifth day of a 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In response to the pandemic, South African Airways (SAA) has suspended all domestic, regional and international flights.

The lockdown which got underway at midnight on Thursday, is aimed at curbing the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which to date, has seen South Africa record over 1000 positive cases.

As a result of the lockdown which is being enforced not only in South Africa but in other parts of the world, many travellers across the world are finding themselves stranded in foreign countries, including South Africans.

“We empathise with their plight and are doing whatever is within our means to assist them to be safe, as comfortable as possible and to travel back to South Africa,” said the Minister.

She further added that there may be more people in need of assistance that the department does  not yet know about.

The Minister urged those who are not able to make contact with missions abroad to contact the department’s 24-hour Command Centre on +27 12 351 1754 and +27 12 351 1756. Emails may be sent to : Cicc1@dirco.gov.za and Cicc2@dirco.gov.za.

Assistance provided

In terms of the assistance Dirco is providing to stranded South Africans, Pandor has  directed that priority be given to those who are stranded at airports,  those who are running out of accommodation, the elderly and the sick.

In addition, South African missions abroad  will continue to render consular services, including negotiating with the governments where there are lockdowns in order to facilitate the movement of stranded South Africans.

“Given the difficulties associated with travel restrictions we appeal to those who can afford to return to do so at their own cost. Some have started organising themselves into groups and have approached the department to ensure their safe passage home.  Others are students whose accommodation in crowded dormitories forced them to come home,” she said.

In addition, some South Africans have explored options such as arranging private charter flights  back to South Africa.

This can be done in cooperation with their travel insurance companies, their sponsors or in groups with other citizens in the same country.

“In such cases, we have requested our missions to assist with obtaining flight clearances for chartered flights in the host countries and to get permission to depart on such chartered flight.”

Meanwhile, some citizens have indicated that they are able to bring themselves home. In such cases, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) will facilitate with logistics and consular services to enable them to travel back safely.

In the same breath, Dirco will be liaising with families and friends in South Africa to contribute to the payment for accommodation for those who cannot depart.

Such funds can be transferred by Western Union or MoneyGram, commercial banks or via international EFT directly to the account of the institutions.

“For the rest of the South Africans who might not be stranded or distressed, we have advised that they remain where they are to reduce movement until the end of the lockdown. We also make a special appeal that they observe all the rules and regulations put in place by the authorities of the countries where they are in, as these are meant to curb the spread of this COVID-19 virus,”  she said.

Transport arrangements

Also speaking at the same briefing, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula emphasised that all international and domestic passenger flights are still prohibited under the 21-day national lockdown.

Mbalula also detailed arrangements on the evacuation of foreign nationals from South Africa.

Minister Mbalula said the repatriation of foreign nationals will be made under the following regulations:

• Foreign countries must charter their aircraft to South Africa without passengers except with the crew.

• The crew is not allowed to disembark.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the evacuation of South African citizens is allowed provided that:

• He or she has a fully paid return flight ticket
•  On arrival they will be subjected to mandatory quarantine for a period of up to 21 days
•  The crew shall be allowed to disembark subject to mandatory quarantine laws as may be applicable.

The following technical flights are allowed:

• Medical evacuation flights
• Aircraft in a state of emergency
• Overflights
• Technical landings for refuelling
• Aircraft operations related to humanitarian aid, relief flights and other safety related operations

Mbalula said medical evacuation flights should not carry passengers except patients and crew that will upon landing be subjected to mandatory quarantine laws as may be applicable.

Technical landing flights are allowed on condition that no passenger may disembark.

In addition, the following airports should have standby operational staff who will receive aircraft that are in distress.

• Port Elizabeth
• Bram Fischer
• Upington
• Polokwane
• Kruger in Mpumalanga

Mbalula added that air transportation of all cargo – essential and non-essential – is permitted.

Disembarkation of Flight Cargo Crew is permitted on condition that it will be subjected to quarantine laws applicable in South Africa.

Collaboration

Pandor has tasked missions to also determine from host countries, whether authorities can offer any assistance to foreigners stranded in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes for example, the issuing / extension of visas.

“I must take this opportunity to thank all the countries that have assisted in this regard not with only consular services but also have donated both financially as well as with other resources necessary to fight the spread of this virus.”

Meanwhile, Consular Services Unit is monitoring calls of stranded South Africans daily to ensure that they are informed all the time

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has cancelled fraudulent certificates allowing companies to trade as essential services during the 21-day national lockdown.

”Businesses in the CIPC database that are not eligible to continue operations during the lockdown have had their certificates cancelled and will be handed over to the South African Police Services for further investigation and potential prosecution,” said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) on Tuesday.

The fraudulent issuing of the certificates was found during the course of the review of the essential service list of applications.

“The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has established that certain companies not designated as essential services have either fraudulently or negligently applied on the Bizportal website (www.bizportal.gov.za),” said the department.

The department has introduced a portal on the website run by the CIPC to log company details only where companies comply with the regulations issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on 25 March 2020.

This follows the earlier announcement that businesses that will be allowed to provide essential services during the 21-day national lockdown would be required to seek approval from the dti.

It is a criminal offence for any business to continue operating during the lockdown period if it is not providing an essential service, as defined in the applicable regulations and direction, unless such business can be operated using work-from-home arrangements.

It is also a criminal offence for any business, which misrepresents the nature of its operations in order to obtain a CIPC certificate.

”The CIPC, upon review, has established that pubs, taverns, restaurants, fast food places, pizza parlours and the like have registered to continue operating during the lockdown, in violation of the applicable regulations as per the essential service list. These businesses are not eligible to continue operating during the lockdown period in terms of the regulations and directions issued by government.”

The dti said the operation of any essential service is subject to full compliance with the applicable lockdown regulations and that a company falls within the scope of essential services, as defined in the regulations.

The petrol price will come down by between R1.88 and R1.76 a litre inland.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a R1.88 cent decrease in the price of 95 (ULP and LRP) in Gauteng.

A litre of 93 (ULP and LRP) will come down by R1.76 a litre as of Wednesday, 1 April.

Currently, a litre of 95 ULP in Gauteng costs R15.84. With the price change, a litre of 95 ULP will cost R13.96 in Gauteng.

Meanwhile, a litre of diesel (0.05% Sulphur) will come down by R1.34, while that of diesel (0.005% Sulphur) will come down by R1.35 inland.

In the coastal areas, diesel (0.05% Sulphur) will come down by R1.40, while that of diesel (0.005% Sulphur) will decrease by R1.41a litre.

In the coast, a litre of 95 (ULP and LRP) will decrease by R1.94 cents, while the price of 93 (ULP and LRP) will come down by R1.82 cents a litre.

The price of illuminating paraffin (wholesale) will decrease by R1.84 inland. In the coast, it will drop by R1.98 cents.

The price of illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) will go down by R2.45 cents, while the Maximum Retail Price for LPGAS will decrease by R3.78 cents per kilogram.

The April price adjustments is the fourth consecutive drop in the petrol price since the start of the year.

The price changes come as South Africa has entered a 21-day national lockdown as part of efforts to fight the spread of the Coronavirus, which has seen confirmed cases rise above the 1 000 mark. Three deaths have also been recorded.

Around 10 000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, provinces will provide grocery and essentials packs for the most vulnerable.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and Gauteng acting MEC for Social Development Panyaza Lusufi are today visiting several social grant payment points across Pretoria, as part of efforts to monitor the payment of grants, under the current 21-day COVID-19 national lockdown.

The visits to the Laudium Plaza, Atteridgeville Post Office, Shoprite at Atlyn Mall and Mamelodi Post Office will culminate with a visit to the Soshanguve Post Office at NAFCOC Centre.

Tuesday’s visits follow on Monday’s start of the payments of grants to older persons and persons with disabilities.

Under the current 21-day national lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the payment of social grants of the elderly and persons with disabilities have been set aside for 30-31 March 2020.

The payment of these grants got off to a smooth start on Monday, said the Department of Social Development and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in a joint statement.

As at 4pm on Monday, 4.2 million transactions to the tune of R3.7b billion were processed through the SASSA/South African Post Office (SAPO) card.

In addition, 3.1 million beneficiaries were paid through various commercial banks.

“The payment of social grants highlights the importance of providing the safety nets for the poor and vulnerable particularly amid what has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Without social grants, over 12 million vulnerable people who are currently on the social assistance programme will have no safety net to mitigate the negative socio-economic impact of COVID-19,” said the two parties.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 21-days lockdown, SASSA brought the social grants payment date forward.

Challenges experienced

The large transactions took place despite minor glitches reported in some areas.

These glitches included long queues, overcrowding, failure to comply with social distancing and hygiene guidelines at some pay outlets.

There were also reported cases of depletion of cash at some post office outlets due to higher than normal numbers of people.

Minister Zulu, accompanied by the MEC visited some pay points on Monday to monitor compliance with the lockdown regulations and measures to contain the further spread of the virus.

“We are pleased that in most areas that we visited, social grant beneficiaries heeded our call to give older persons and persons with disabilities an opportunity to be the first to access their grants.

“I would like to thank the Minister of Transport, the transport operators and some municipalities for their cooperation in ensuring that our senior citizens and persons with disabilities get to their pay points. I would also like to thank retailers and banks for enforcing the lockdown regulations for the safety and health of our people,” said Zulu on Monday.

The post office and the majority of retailers provided chairs, trolleys, hand sanitisers and queue walkers to ensure compliance with hygiene and social distancing guidelines recommended by the Department of Health.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has paid out R2.4 billion to taxpayers in refunds since the commencement of the COVID-19 enforced lockdown on 26 March.

In a statement, the revenue collector said this was in an effort to balance the safety of its staff, taxpayers and traders, while ensuring that the country’s economy is able to function.

This comes as many countries around the world continue to battle with the economic and health impact arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“SARS is fully aware of the devastating effect on the lives of our people, the risk to businesses and an already struggling economy. Consequently, we are committed to maintaining the essential services of SARS to mitigate these unfavourable conditions,” SARS said in the statement.

The refunds comprise payments to large business amounting to R1.1 billion and payments to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) amounting to R1.3 billion.

“The payment of refunds represents a major cash injection into the economy at a very critical period. SARS can only do this if taxpayers and traders remain compliant by fulfilling their filing and payment obligations even during the lockdown,” the revenue collector said.

SARS has made available the following online channels, namely, MobiApp, eFiling, e@syFile, email and the SARS contact centre – 0800 00 7277 – to fulfil these obligations.

SARS has also urged taxpayers and traders to use the channels to make payments that are due on or before 31 March 2020 and remain compliant.

“It also remains imperative that various categories of businesses in distress continue to be compliant in order to access the tax relief measures that government has put in place to counter the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said SARS.

The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has urged citizens to play their part in ensuring heightened care and access to information for people with disabilities during the 21-day COVID-19 enforced lockdown.

In a statement issued on Monday, the department said people with disabilities are among those who were mostly vulnerable to the negative impact of Coronavirus.

Their exposure as sharpened during the period of State of Disaster and the national lockdown, the department said.

“People with disabilities, the elderly, those in frail care, and children with disabilities continue to remain at the periphery of society and are isolated from activities during the best of times. During the national lockdown, these groups face increased isolation through their physical conditions, as well as through a lack of accessible information,” the statement read.

To ensure that people with disabilities and their families continue to receive services during the lockdown, residential facilities, including centre and community-based facilities will remain operational as they form part of essential services.

The department said society should during this period ensure that information on COVID-19 is made available in accessible formats, on appropriate platforms, including accessible digital technology to cater for the needs of people with disabilities.

This includes the interpretation of speeches and addresses into South African Sign Language.

The department called on all media organisations to ensure that televised press briefings have sign language interpreters, that transcripts are made available, and closed captions are utilised for persons with hearing difficulties.

To ensure that persons with disabilities receive accessible information during this critical time, the Gender Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) (0800 428 428) has a Skype Line (add “Helpme GBV” to your Skype contacts) and “Please Call Me” facility: *120*7867#. An SMS based line is also available on 31531.

The department urged all sectors of society to work together to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities in all spheres of life.

“We can support persons with disabilities by promoting, protecting and advancing the rights of people with disabilities in our areas of influence,” said the department.

During the lockdown, caregivers will continue assisting people with disabilities, as they have been deemed essential service workers.  They will assist those living disabilities continue to access services and goods, including access to social grants and to perform other essential tasks.

“People with special needs will continue to be allowed to leave their homes for essential tasks.  The standard practices on people with visual impairments, who have guide dogs, will apply,” the department said.

During this period, relevant government departments will continue to support people with disabilities in obtaining food and other essential services.

“We encourage essential service providers to support the elderly and people with disabilities by establishing exclusive hours to buy necessities,” the department said.

Government will in the coming days roll out a large-scale screening, testing, tracing and a medical management programme, to manage the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We are now entering a new phase in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 10 000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

The President was addressing the nation on Monday for the first time since he declared the National State of Disaster to combat the pandemic. His address comes as South Africa went into a nation-wide lockdown for the first time in the history of its democracy last Thursday at midnight.

“People with symptoms will be referred to local clinics or mobile clinics for testing. People who are infected with Coronavirus, but who have no or moderate symptoms will remain in isolation at home or at a facility provided by government and those with severe symptoms will be transferred to hospitals,” the President said.

“Using mobile technology, an extensive tracing system will be rapidly deployed to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed Coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time,” the President said.

The number of infections continues to grow as there are now 1 326 confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa.

“As a nation, we were deeply saddened to learn that, in the last few days, three South Africans have died from the disease. We convey our sympathies and condolences to their families and friends and to their communities,” the President said.

South Africans urged to stay home

President Ramaphosa reiterated his call to South African to stay at home for the next 17 days.

“Leave your home only if you need to get food and essential provisions, collect a social grant, buy medicine or get urgent medical care.

“The only people who can go to work are health workers, security and emergency personnel, those who work to keep our people supplied with food, medicine and basic goods and other providers of essential services as defined in the regulations,” he said.

The President said people who do go out should do everything they can not to get infected and not to infect anyone else.

“Some people may think this disease is something that doesn’t concern them and will never affect them. That it is something they only read about in newspapers or see reports about on TV.

“But it is very real, and it poses a great danger to every one of us and to our society. Let us not make the mistake of thinking this is somebody else’s problem. Every time you violate the regulations the government has issued or try to get around the rules, you are putting yourself and others at risk, and helping the virus to spread,” the President said.

Reaction to Moody’ decision to downgrade SA

The President noted that the pandemic is happening at a time when the country’s economy is under great strain.

Rating agency Moody’s recently downgraded South Africa to a sub-investment grade.

He assured South Africans that this development will not diminish in any way the country’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are pushing ahead to implement the necessary health interventions and economic and social measures to contain the spread of the disease and alleviate its effects on our people.

“Within the constraints of the current crisis, we remain committed to implementing structural economic reforms to address weak economic growth, constrained public finances and struggling state-owned enterprises,” the President said.

Government is working together with its social partners to identify further measures that South Africa can take to limit the damage to the economy.

“Even as our country faces deep and pressing challenges on several fronts, there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail.

“That is because South Africans have come together like never before to wage this struggle against this virus. Many businesses and individuals are making financial and other contributions to this cause,” the President said.

The President thanked the many businesses and individuals who are making financial and other contributions to this cause.

A nation pulling together

In addition to the financial pledges announced last week, the President welcomed the contribution by the Motsepe Foundation of R1 billion and by Naspers of R1.5 billion to the Coronavirus response.

“We are also extremely grateful to Mr Jack Ma, the founder of the China-based company Alibaba, who has donated vital medical supplies to South Africa and other countries across Africa.”

In a moving tribute, President Ramaphosa thanked the nurses, doctors and other health workers, social workers and frontline government staff, volunteers and NGOs who are leading the fight against the disease.

He thanked the 18 000 security personnel, drawn from the police, defence force, metro police and other entities, that are responsible for ensuring our safety.

“And then there is each of you, the 58 million South African citizens and residents who are standing together as one in confronting this national health emergency. Among us are the men and women who rise at dawn every day, and labour through the night to keep this country going.

“I speak of the farmworker who is helping to keep us supplied with food. I speak of the technician in the power station working shift after shift to keep the lights on. I speak of the caregiver in the old-age home, the childcare home and the hospice, who comes in every day to tend to the most vulnerable of our citizens.

“To the taxi driver, the refuse collector, the supermarket cashier, the hospital cleaner, the petrol attendant and all those essential services workers, you are our unsung heroes, and we salute you,” said the President.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called for harsh action against the men who raped and murdered a woman after allegedly posing as soldiers deployed for the 21-day lockdown.

“I am deeply concerned about criminals who take advantage of the national lockdown to rob and murder innocent citizens. We want women and children to be safe during this moment,” said Nkoana-Mashabane in a statement on Monday evening.

This comes after a KwaZulu-Natal granny was raped and murdered, allegedly by men posing as soldiers who said they were going around sanitising homes.

Government announced a 21-day lockdown and deployed soldiers to various communities as a measure to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

It is reported that 75-year-old Genzeni Ernstine MaMthalane Zuma was raped and murdered by criminals who duped her into believing they were members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

It is alleged that Zuma allowed the criminals into her home in Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg, after they claimed to be SANDF members assigned to sanitise homes in the area. Zuma’s grandson discovered her body on Sunday morning.

A week ago, two other cases were reported – one of a six-year-old girl, Sinakhokonke Madiya, who died after she was raped and strangled at Izingolweni, on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.

Another case reported was of an 11-year-old, Tiyiselani Rikhotso, from Ndengeza village in Limpopo. Her body was found in the Klein Letaba Dam with several open and deep wounds.

As part of extra measures, government announced that there are plans to beef up the family violence, children protection and sexual offences units.

For urgent responses, the public can report incidents of gender-based violence on the number 0800 150 150.

The Minister has appealed to the security cluster not to let their guard down and act decisively on matters of violence against women and children during these trying times.

“Let’s ensure children are cared for and not left unattended during this period, remain vigilant to any suspicious behaviour of neighbours and surroundings and report any suspected form of abuse or criminal activity,” said the Minister.

The public can report incidents of violence against women and children to:

SAPS Crime Stop: 0860 10111 / SMS Crime Line: 32211

GBVF-related service complaints (SAPS): 0800 333 177/ complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za

Two elderly persons passed away Monday, on what was the first day of grant payments to the elderly and persons with disabilities.

“I express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Both of them were confirmed to be social grant beneficiaries at the time of their passing and I have instructed SASSA to process their payments without any delays,” said Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu on Monday.

The Minister directed social workers to provide psycho-social support services to the families of the deceased.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 21-day lockdown, SASSA brought the social grants payment date forward and set aside 30 and 31 March 2020 as special days for older persons and persons with disabilities.

As at 16h00 on day 4 of the nationwide lockdown, two million transactions to the tune of R3.7 billion were processed through the SASSA/SAPO card. In addition, 3.1 million beneficiaries were paid through various commercial banks.

The 21-day lockdown was implemented to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.

“The payment of social grants highlights the importance of providing the safety nets for the poor and vulnerable, particularly amid what has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Without social grants, over 12 million vulnerable people who are currently on the social assistance programme will have no safety net to mitigate the negative socio-economic impact of COVID-19,” said Zulu.

The transactions took place despite minor glitches reported in some areas. These glitches included long queues, overcrowding as well as failure to comply with social distancing and hygiene guidelines at some pay outlets.

There were also reported cases of depletion of cash at some Post Office outlets due to higher than normal numbers of people.

Zulu, accompanied by the Acting MEC of Social Development in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, visited some pay points this morning to monitor compliance with the lockdown regulations and measures to contain the further spread of the virus.

“We could not have asked for a better start than what we witness today. We are pleased that in most areas that we visited, social grant beneficiaries heeded our call to give older persons and persons with disabilities an opportunity to be the first to access their grants.

“I would like to thank the Minister of Transport, the transport operators and some municipalities for their cooperation in ensuring that our senior citizens and persons with disabilities get to their pay points. I would also like to thank retailers and banks for enforcing the lockdown regulations for the safety and health of our people,” said the Minister.

The Post Office and the majority of retailers provided chairs, trolleys, hand sanitisers and queue walkers to ensure compliance with hygiene and social distancing guidelines recommended by the Health Department.

Zulu appealed to social grant beneficiaries to comply with the lockdown regulations by using their SASSA/SAPO card to transact at local retailers and to avoid long queues to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

“It is worth repeating that SASSA has paid money into all beneficiaries’ accounts and therefore there is no need to panic and rush and withdraw all of it on the first day of the month.

“The SASSA/SAPO card gives beneficiaries the convenience of transacting at any time of the month and anywhere in the country without the burden of carrying cash which exposes them to criminal elements,” she said.