NamPost, finance ministry tighten social grant payment dates to ease queues

NamPost Namibia says it will only issue payments strictly according to the allocated dates for each grant category in an effort to avoid long queues.

In a joint press release issued on Wednesday, NamPost and the Ministry of Finance said stricter controls on in-branch social cash grant payments are necessary to avoid beneficiaries accessing payments outside the approved schedule.

According to the statement, beneficiaries not honouring the payment schedule have placed significant pressure on in-branch services and led to congestion at multiple service points.

As a result over 37 000 social grant recipients were paid in a single day in January, compared to the expected 28 000.

“Therefore, effective from 15 January, in-branch payments will be limited strictly to the grant categories scheduled for specific payment days. The measure aims to enforce compliance with the in-branch payment programme, support orderly service delivery, and enable NamPost to manage customer volumes,” the statement reads.

According to the statement, NamPost will also deploy additional mobile payment teams at selected larger branches to assist with pay-outs and ease congestion.

Furthermore, branches will have additional staff to improve turnaround times and reduce waiting times.

“The 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 reads.

“Travelling long distances to post offices outside scheduled dates contributes to overcrowding and disrupts the efficiency of the payment process.”

Beneficiaries are implored to adhere to the remaining in-branch payment programme for the January payment cycle, which is as follows: old age and disability cash grants, 12 to 14 January.

Child cash grant 15 to 17 January, and basic-income cash grant 19 to 20 January.

Beneficiaries who miss their scheduled payment dates will still be able to collect their grants one week later, from 20 to 25 January.

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