Dlamini (again) gives assurances over payment of social grants
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has again given the assurance that social grants will be paid on April 1.
Members of Parliament are debating the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) crisis in the National Assembly.
Concern in mounting over whether SASSA will be able to pay 17 million beneficiaries their social grants when SASSA's contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) comes to an end on 31 March 2017.
Dlamini told the National Assembly that social grants will be paid.
"Social grants will be paid on 1 April. From the outset I would like to reiterate the assurance of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, that there is no crisis at SASSA. All eligible social grant beneficiaries will receive their money on 1 April and beyond," said Dlamini.
Dlamini said opposition parties should stop with their 'scare campaign' which has caused public panic and anxiety.
"They are doing this to remove the authority of the ANC, the governing party," said Dlamini.
IFP MP Linda van der Merwe kicked off the debate by asking what Dlamini is doing to address the situation.
"Like the true Houdini of politics, the minister is often nowhere to be found. In her absence she has left officials to face the music, which has resulted in the public and MPs being furnished with lies, lies and more lies," says Van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe said a dodgy tender, a rogue minister and ruling party that no longer cares for the poor is at the heart of this crisis.
"There are many other culprits involved in this SASSA scandal, too. One culprit is the president himself. When I asked the president last year about the illegal deductions from grant recipients and the involvement of CPS, he simply laughed at me and said I should raise the issue with the minister," said Van der Merwe.
DA MP Bridget Masango said it is clear that Dlamini has done all in her power to avoid having to produce any contract for the Constitutional Court's scrutiny.
"The CEO of SASSA told the media recently that the minister blocked all his efforts to report back to the Constitutional Court - which she was obliged to do - about the payment of social grants and that she personally interfered when he tried to find a solution to the crisis," said Masango.
The EFF's Ntombovuyo Mente said it is only a sick government that is willing to put the only social security that exists for 17 million recipients in jeopardy.
"It is only when we have a constitutional delinquent as a president that ministers and government officials will willy-nilly ignore the Constitutional Court. What is a fact is that Minister Bathabile Dlamini has done everything in her power - including undermining the Constitutional Court - to ensure that the country has no other option but to continue with the unconstitutional and illegal contract with CPS," said Mente.