To relieve pressure on post offices, the South African Post Office has announced new collection points for R350 grants. Approved recipients of the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant can collect their benefit from Pick n Pay and Boxer stores nationwide from Wednesday, 22 September.
In a statement released on 21 September, Nobuhle Njapha, Communications official of the SA Post Office in KwaZulu-Natal said that only grant recipients who have received an SMS from SASSA confirming their collection pay-out point as either Pick n Pay or Boxer can use the new collection points. “Pick n Pay and Boxer are proud to assist grant beneficiaries to access their funds more conveniently and safely, ensuring they receive much-needed relief quicker than before,” said John Bradshaw, retail executive: Omnichannel, Pick n Pay. Pick n Pay collection points exclude BP Pick n Pay Express, Pick n Pay Clothing and Pick n Pay Liquor stores.
Step-by-step process to collecting the SRD grant from Pick n Pay or Boxer:
1. The grant applicant receives an SMS from SASSA confirming their successful application.
2. A grant beneficiary will receive an SMS message from SASSA confirming collection point and advising on the day of collection.
3. Beneficiary must take their ID and cellphone (number registered at SASSA) along to the store when collecting their grant.
4. Enter ID number and the registered SASSA cellphone number at the till point to confirm the funds are available for collection.
5. Beneficiary immediately receives a USSD message to which they must approve on their cellphone before the cash is handed over.
Beneficiaries will never be asked to enter personal information on their cellphones or to click on a link. “Pick n Pay and Boxer do not manage the application and approval of grant funds, or when and where collections can be made. This process is run entirely by Postbank,” said Njapha, Njapha said that during the previous payment period of SRD grants, around 5 million South Africans received the grant each month.
