Windhoek: The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with NamPost, has announced the introduction of stricter controls on in-branch social cash grant payments to ensure compliance with the in-branch payment programme and to facilitate orderly service delivery.

According to Namibia Press Agency - English, the measures follow reports of long queues at various post offices around the country during the social grants payment period in January and will take effect on Thursday, 15 January 2026. A joint statement released by the ministry and NamPost on Wednesday noted that the situation has put considerable pressure on in-branch services, leading to congestion at several service points. The new measures are also intended to help NamPost manage customer volumes at post offices.

Additionally, the statement highlighted that over 37,000 social grant recipients were paid on the first day, compared to the anticipated 28,000, primarily because beneficiaries accessed payments outside the approved schedule. "In-branch payments will be strictly limited to the grant categories scheduled for specific payment days," the statement reads.

According to the statement, NamPost will also deploy additional mobile payment teams at selected larger branches to assist with payouts and reduce congestion. "Branches are being capacitated with additional staff to enhance turnaround times and reduce waiting periods," it further stated.

Furthermore, both the ministry and NamPost have encouraged all beneficiaries and members of the public to adhere closely to the published in-branch payment schedule and to await mobile payment teams at the designated pay points. They highlighted that travelling long distances to post offices outside of the scheduled dates leads to overcrowding and disrupts the efficiency of the payment process.

NamPost also reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing coordination with regional authorities to improve efficiency and ensure smoother payment processes throughout all regions.