Cabinet will hold a dedicated meeting with all parties involved in the payment of social grants next week‚ Minister Jeff Radebe said on Thursday.

He told a news briefing that cabinet had not discussed the looming issue of the payment of 17 million social grants at its meeting this week‚ but had decided to convene with all concerned parties‚ including the Department of Social Development and the National Treasury.

“All of us are as concerned as everyone else‚” Radebe said‚ but added that government was “deeply and totally committed” to ensuring grant beneficiaries received their money.

The contract to pay grants‚ awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS)‚ was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court three years ago‚ but was allowed to run its full term until 31 March this year‚ to allow the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to set up the systems to pay the grants themselves.

These systems were hit by several delays and the department has said the only viable option is to negotiate a new contract with the current service provider to ensure that payments go ahead on April 1.

Negotiations with CPS got under way on Wednesday. The Department of Social Development has said that it will pay beneficiaries using bank accounts‚ or even cash in remote areas‚ should the negotiations not proceed to plan.

Radebe said that cabinet was aware of the time constraints but would only be able to comment on government’s position after the meeting had taken place next week.

He did not have details of when the meeting would be held.

-TMG Digital