(MENAFN Editorial) CAPE TOWN, South Africa, December 4, 2017/APO Group/ --

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is concerned by theincreasing number of scams and false information targetingbeneficiaries of social grants.The latestfalseinformation being circulated is thatSASSA offices will beclosed during theDecembermonth and that beneficiaries will not receive their January payments.

SASSA would like to assure its beneficiaries thatall SASSAoffices willremainopenfor business during Decemberand will only closeas usualonpublicholidays like Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year. We urge our beneficiaries to report such acts of criminality to the police so that these scammers can be put behind bars.

Social grant payments for December are currently being made and the process will continue until 15 December at SASSA paypoints. Beneficiaries who use ATM's and shops for drawing their grants can do so till the 22nd December 2018. This was done to allowbeneficiariestodo their Christmas purchases ahead of the usual festive season rush.

FromJanuary2018, socialgrantpaymentswill be paidas usual from the first day of every month.Beneficiaries are urged to contact their localSASSAofficesfor any enquiries relating to their grant payments or call 0800601011.

Commenting on the latest developments TheActing CEO of SASSAMsPearl Bhengusaid 'All social grant recipients should remain vigilant at this time of the year and never disclose their card details to anyone, including their PIN and ID numbers. I also want to take this opportunity to wish allbeneficiariesof social grantsa safe and happy festive season.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Government Communication and Information.

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