Black Sash heads to Concourt over grants debacle

The Constitutional Court will hear an urgent application to seek reinstatement of the oversight role of this Court for the payment of social grants.

According to a statement by Black Sash, their application is in the public interest and in the interests of all grant beneficiaries to ensure that SASSA complies with its constitutional obligations to provide social assistance in a lawful manner that is in line with constitutional rights and values.

"In 2012 SASSA)contracted with Cash Paymaster Services to pay social grants on its behalf. This contract was declared invalid by this Court. The order of invalidity was suspended and the Court retained supervisory jurisdiction over the matter," the statement reads.

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On 5 November 2015 SASSA filed a report to the Constitutional Court, stating that it would not award a new contract, but intended to take over the payment function of social grants from 1 April 2017.

"It became apparent that SASSA was not in fact in a position to take over the payment function from CPS on 1 April 2017, and would instead have to enter into a further contract with CPS to ensure that over 17 million beneficiaries would be able to continue receiving social grants," Black Sash explains.

Freedom Under Law also lodged an application for leave to intervene as a second applicant.

"This application will be heard simultaneously with that of Black Sash. FUL contends that it ought to be granted leave to intervene because it is a public-interest organisation actively involved in the promotion of democracy and advancement of respect for the rule of law," the statement continues.

Corruption Watch and the South African Post Office have filed applications to be admitted as amici (friends of the Court).