CPS using ‘dirty tricks’

Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), the subsidiary of tech giant Net1 UEPS, is facing fresh allegations of using “dirty tricks” in sabotaging the South African Post Office’s (Sapo’s) efforts in becoming the sole social grants distributor over the next three months.

This allegation has been made by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), civil rights group The Black Sash and a panel of experts appointed by the Constitutional Court to oversee the phasing out of CPS’s illegally-awarded contract by August 31, 2018.

Sapo has missed its targets in swapping the Sassa/Grindrod branded cards, which are currently used by beneficiaries, with new Sassa/Post Office branded cards. The card swapping function would enable beneficiaries to be migrated to Sapo’s payment systems.

A report dated June 14 by a panel of experts, including Auditor General Kimi Makwetu and former Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus, reveals that CPS might have a hand in stunting the Sapo’s progress.

Sassa has reported to the panel that CPS employees have, in several incidents, prevented Sapo officials from entering cash pay points to carry out the card swaps.

“All Sassa’s regions have reported such incidents of intimidation and attempts to prevent employees from performing their duties at cash pay points,” the report reads.