Government, NamPost tighten controls amid social grant chaos
Government and NamPost have agreed to introduce stricter controls on in-branch social grant payments following unusually long queues and congestion at post offices during the January payment cycle.
In a statement issued this week, NamPost said it recorded heavy congestion at several branches after large numbers of beneficiaries accessed payments outside the approved schedule. More than 37 000 social grant recipients were paid on the first day of the cycle, far exceeding the expected 28 000, placing significant pressure on in-branch services.
To restore order, the Ministry of Finance and NamPost will, with effect from yesterday, limit in-branch payments strictly to the grant categories scheduled for specific payment days. The move is intended to enforce compliance with the payment programme, support orderly service delivery, and allow NamPost to better manage customer volumes at post offices.
NamPost said it will also deploy additional mobile payment teams at selected larger branches to assist with payouts and ease congestion, while branches are being capacitated with extra staff to improve turnaround times and reduce waiting periods.
“Government and NamPost again appeal to all beneficiaries and members of the public to adhere strictly to the published in-branch payment programme and to await mobile payment teams at designated pay points,” the statement said, warning that travelling long distances to post offices outside scheduled dates contributes to overcrowding and disrupts the efficiency of the payment process.
According to NamPost, the remaining in-branch payment schedule for the January 2026 cycle is as follows: old age and disability cash grants from 12 to 14 January; child cash grants from 15 to 17 January; and the basic income cash grant from 19 to 20 January.
The measures, NamPost said, are aimed at ensuring smoother payment processes and improved efficiency across all regions.
In a statement issued this week, NamPost said it recorded heavy congestion at several branches after large numbers of beneficiaries accessed payments outside the approved schedule. More than 37 000 social grant recipients were paid on the first day of the cycle, far exceeding the expected 28 000, placing significant pressure on in-branch services.
To restore order, the Ministry of Finance and NamPost will, with effect from yesterday, limit in-branch payments strictly to the grant categories scheduled for specific payment days. The move is intended to enforce compliance with the payment programme, support orderly service delivery, and allow NamPost to better manage customer volumes at post offices.
NamPost said it will also deploy additional mobile payment teams at selected larger branches to assist with payouts and ease congestion, while branches are being capacitated with extra staff to improve turnaround times and reduce waiting periods.
“Government and NamPost again appeal to all beneficiaries and members of the public to adhere strictly to the published in-branch payment programme and to await mobile payment teams at designated pay points,” the statement said, warning that travelling long distances to post offices outside scheduled dates contributes to overcrowding and disrupts the efficiency of the payment process.
According to NamPost, the remaining in-branch payment schedule for the January 2026 cycle is as follows: old age and disability cash grants from 12 to 14 January; child cash grants from 15 to 17 January; and the basic income cash grant from 19 to 20 January.
The measures, NamPost said, are aimed at ensuring smoother payment processes and improved efficiency across all regions.
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