DocumentOngoingNews

No Sassa Pay Points Have Been Closed

GCIS / SAnewsRef: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/no-sassa-pay-points-have-been-closed

Official source

Source domain: sanews.gov.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This SAnews news article reports that South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Minister Susan Shabangu dismissed rumours that SASSA would close all pay points without alternatives for beneficiaries. She said no pay points were being closed and that any changes would be done in consultation with stakeholders, including traditional leaders, and in line with a policy requiring beneficiaries to access pay points within a five-kilometre radius. The article also explains the transition from the CPS to the South African Post Office (SAPO), including the rollout of a new SAPO card from 17 April 2018 to beneficiaries receiving cash payments, and notes that SASSA would engage provinces and municipalities to address challenges.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

new payment cardOngoing

New SAPO card for social grant payment and withdrawal

Beneficiaries receiving cash payments at pay points can obtain a new SAPO card starting 17 April 2018. The card replaces the old SASSA card and can be used at banks and retailers such as ShopRite and Boxer Supermarket to withdraw or spend social grants. The rollout is nationwide and targets approximately nine million beneficiaries.

Who it is for: beneficiaries receiving cash payments at pay points
How to act on it: Wait for distribution of the new SAPO card at designated locations; no application required as it is distributed by SASSA and SAPO.

Show the line this came from

The SAPO card was distributed nationwide from 17 April to all beneficiaries of social grants receiving cash payments at pay points and merchants (e.g. ShopRite, Boxer Supermarket etc.)

Facts

Places

City of Tshwane, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo

Reference

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/no-sassa-pay-points-have-been-closed

Key Takeaways

Claim addressed: rumours that SASSA would close all pay points without alternatives
Minister: Susan Shabangu dismissed rumours; no pay points being closed
Consultation requirement: stakeholders including traditional leaders
Policy: beneficiaries must access pay points within a five-kilometre radius
Closure considerations: presence of Post Office and/or ATM/bank within five kilometres
Transition: CPS to SA Post Office (SAPO) with provincial/municipal/district engagement
Timing: media briefing in Tshwane on Monday, 4 June 2018
New card: SAPO card replaces old SASSA card for payment/withdrawal from May 2018
Rollout: SAPO card distributed nationwide from 17 April 2018
Scale: estimated nine million beneficiaries; about 2.5 million receive grants at pay points
CoGTA Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize: ~30% of population receive grants; Eastern Cape and Limpopo ~42%
South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
Susan Shabangu
South African Post Office (SAPO)
CPS
National House of Traditional Leaders
Traditional leaders
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Dr Zweli Mkhize
Tshwane
Constitutional Court
Post Office
Banks
ATMs
ShopRite
Boxer Supermarket
SAnews
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)