Black Sash: Grants will be paid, what a victory!
Non-Governmental Organisation Black Sash, has welcomed the ruling by the Constitutional Court to extend the contract between Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) and the South African Social Security Services (SASSA) by 12 months.
The contract will be extended to allow payment of social grants to 17 million recipients on April 1.
Black Sash's regional Manger Thandiwe Zulu says the fact that grants will be paid is a victory.
"We are happy, this is a victory for our democracy and grant recipients who are surviving on the ground. This is exciting," said Zulu
Zulu says they will explain the court ruling to grant recipients when they update them on the latest developments.
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"The grant recipients are always up to date, they are here at court in numbers. We work through community based organisations to give them information in a simplified manner that is not techinical," said Zulu.
Zulu says payment of grants is a state function and SASSA should continue delivering on its mandate.
In his judgment, Justice Coenrad Froneman also ordered Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to state why she shouldn't be held personally liable for expenses incurred in the Constitutional Court application.
"The minister is called upon to show cause on affidavit on or before Friday, 31 March 2017 why: 1.) she should not be joined in her personal capacity, and 2.) she should not pay costs of the application from her own pocket," said Froneman.
Grant recipients reacted to the judgement outside court.