The Chairperson of the SA Post Office Board of Directors, Ms Colleen Makhubele, launched the rollout in Limpopo of a new cashless ATM provided by the SA Post Office today at an informal store in Ga Molepo outside Polokwane..

“The cashless ATM helps decongest current payment points (post office branches, ATMs, and retail merchants) by increasing SASSA grants access points, and thus assists government’s social distancing requirements in light of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ms Makhubele.

The Executive Mayor of the Capricorn Municipality, Mr John Mpe, said the new system would stimulate local economic activity as SASSA beneficiaries will be spending their grant money at merchants within their localities, and will assist beneficiaries to stretch the rand value of each social grants disbursement as they will no longer have to travel to reach grants payments access points.

Mayor Mpe commented that the city was proud to be the first  where the service is available, and said he was thankful for the benefit the cashless ATM brings to the most vulnerable citizens, by reducing the need for traveling and by offering SASSA beneficiaries an additional channel at grassroots level to access their grants.

The system will assist in dealing with the spread of the COVID-19 by reducing queues and cash distributions. The cashless ATM issues a voucher, which the beneficiary can exchange for cash or goods at the trader. 

The Post Office intends to install 10 000 of the cashless ATMs at traders around South Africa. 

Bringing financial services to the people is one of the most important goals of the SA Post Office. Post Office Chairperson Ms Colleen Makhubele concluded: “We are proud to announce a product that takes South Africans one step further away from cash, and which will benefit local economies.  Moreover, it enables the vulnerable members of society to make the absolute most of their grant.”

Traders who are interested in hosting the cashless ATM can send an email to cashless@postoffice.co.za for more information.