MORE then 21 million people have re-registered to receive their social grants.

This is after the closing date on March 29 was extended to April 30, to give beneficiaries who qualify a chance to re-register.

The spokesman for the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Tshediso Mahlaku, said people who receive social grants on behalf of other people were also required to register, which was not the case before.

"The actual number of beneficiaries of social grants in South Africa is around 16-million. That the number of re-registered people should be 21 million is because the new system requires that even people who receive payment on behalf of those who are bedridden or frail should also be registered."

Sassa has managed to meet its target of registering 21 million beneficiaries.

Mahlaku, however, admitted that it is still too soon to tell if they have managed to do away with the the problem of "ghost beneficiaries" completely.

"Once the process or re-registration has been completed we will be able to compare the new data with the old one.

The issue of ghost beneficiaries will be determined then ," Mahlaku said.

People who did not re-register will be issued with letters informing them of the number of days they would be given before their grants are cut off.

"The first letter will be to inform the recipient of the intention to suspend their grant after 90 days if they do not re-register," Mahlaku said.

"The second letter is a reminder of the intention to suspend the grant.

"The third letter will be to inform them that the grant has been suspended after the 90 days without them showing up for re-registration."

l Also see page 7