NamPost says its takeover of the National Social Welfare Cash Grant payments will only apply to beneficiaries receiving their grants through NamPost post offices and mobile teams, not those paid via banks or other financial institutions.
This comes as the Ministry of Finance announced in July that NamPost will officially take over the distribution of social grants nationwide from 1 October 2025.
The ministry said the appointment of NamPost as the official service provider is expected to “improve service efficiency, enhance financial inclusion, and ensure consistent access to social grants for all qualifying recipients.”
Gladwin Groenewaldt, NamPost’s Manager for Marketing and Corporate Communication, said the organisation is in the final stages of preparing its payment systems.
“NamPost is at an advanced stage to finalise the upgrade to our payment systems, to enable both in-branch (Post Office) and out-of-branch (mobile teams) payment operations,” he said.
He added that high-volume branches will be strengthened with extra service points and front-line staff.
To ensure access for recipients in remote areas, Groenewaldt said mobile teams will be deployed. “To ensure accessibility, continuity and timeous operations for grant recipients residing in remote areas and far from a NamPost Post Office, mobile teams will be deployed to facilitate payment at these payouts,” he said. “Additionally, to ensure safe and secure cash payments at remote payout points, mobile teams will be accompanied by well-trained Cash-In-Transit Security personnel.”
Groenewaldt explained that the new system will be rolled out in phases. “During the first phase, beneficiaries will be registered on secure virtual cash grant accounts through which they will receive their monthly grants,” he said. “After the monthly payment programme has been completed, cash grant recipients will have the option to continue to withdraw at any of NamPost’s branches.”
The second phase, he said, will begin early in 2026. “During the second phase, starting early in 2026, NamPost in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), will provide beneficiaries with the option to migrate to a Digital Grant Account, which will be Instant Payment Systems (IPS) ready, enabled with biometrics authentication, and fully compliant with banking regulations,” Groenewaldt said.
He noted that the digital accounts, sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, will ensure recipients do not incur costs and will allow access to additional financial services, including insurance, savings and loans. Consultations with the Bank of Namibia are underway to ensure the accounts are interoperable with the IPS.
“NamPost continues to work closely with the Government to support the smooth implementation of the new social grant disbursement model, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of public trust,” Groenewaldt said.
