The Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture and Social Development through the Department of Social Development is changing how social grants have been elderly people, vulnerable people and people with disabilities.
This, the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture and Social Development, Mr. Pitso Lesaoana said during the press conference held at ministry premises in Maseru on Friday.
Mr. Lesaoana said the plan is for the Ministry to continue to provide social grants via Mpesa and Ecocash, saying the objective for this shift is to see that the sectors assisted by the ministry adapt to mobile payments.
He said this operation will be under the guidance of the Department of Social Development and the Mpesa and Ecocash service providers.
The Minister announced that people who receive social grants from the Ministry, especially elderly people are informed that registration and education regarding the new method of payments will commence on Monday, August 7, 2023 in places where they usually receive their pensions.
Mr. Lesaoana said these efforts are done to speed up the delivery of services and avoid challenges that hinder their service delivery to elderly people.
In conclusion, he said the requirements for mobile payment registration are National Identification (ID) and phone numbers, adding that those who do not have phones will be given sim cards which they will use to get their money.
Also speaking, the General Manager of Eco Cash Financial Service, Mrs. ’Matikoe Letsie thanked the Minister for this press conference, saying this will create awareness about the importance of digital services that the ministry encourages elder people to use.
Mrs. Letsie said Econet will ensure that there are agents across the country so that elderly people can receive eco-cash services easily.
On the same note, the VCL Financial Service Managing Director, Ms. Palesa Mphunyetsane said they have piloted the project with 1506 elderly people in the villages such as Mabote, Motimposo, Lithabaneng, Ha Matala, Maputsoe and Qacha’s Neck.
Ms. Mphunyetsane said providing mobile payments to elderly people will not be a challenge to them as they have over 4500 elder people who use their Mpesa services, noting that indeed they will educate the first-time user of their services to also have easy access to their services.
The Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports Arts, Culture and Social Development through the Department of Social Development has transformed into mobile payments to ensure the safety of elder people and fast delivery of their monthly payments.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe
