Grant payments set for shake-up

THE Department of Social Development’s ambition of taking over payment of grants is gaining momentum, with a pilot project planned for next year.

At a ministerial advisory committee summit in Pretoria yesterday, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said the target date for the full roll-out of the mammoth task was April 2017.

She said discussions by local and international experts had focused on latest global models, new technology and innovations on social security payment systems.

“The work of the [committee] will provide not only the best options on future models of payment for so- cial assistance benefits but will also further enhance efficiency, eliminate fraud and corruption and strengthen the integrity of our social security system.”

The payment of social grants to 16 million beneficiaries, 11 million of them children, is currently outsourced to Cash Paymaster Services through a R10-billion, five-year tender that expires in April 2017.

Dlamini said taking over social grant payments would require the overhaul of the Social Security Agency workforce to bring in young graduates with expertise in information and communications technology and in finance.

The agency would also need improved infrastructure and systems.