Judgment expected in Sassa case tomorrow

Black Sash filed an urgent application for the court to play an oversight role in the payment of social grants. 

There is uncertainty over how beneficiaries will receive their grants or if they'll receive it all come April 1. 

It comes after the Constitutional Court in 2014 found that the contract between Sassa and Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) was unlawful. 

That contract lapses at the end of this month. 

Sassa has since asked the court to extend the contract for another 18 months.

Meanwhile, while many, including Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng admits it's a crisis, government insists it's not. 

President Jacob Zuma answered questions in Parliament this afternoon. 

While he again denied the situation has turned into a crisis, he says it is regrettable.

"We deeply regret the current situation. We will ensure that there is never again any apprehension with regards to the payment of social grants to our people."

Yesterday during court proceedings, Advocate Geoff Budlender, for Black Sash, told the court the Sassa had known for almost a year that it would not be able to pay social grants itself from April.

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

The court says on this basis, it discharged its supervisory jurisdiction.  

CPS insists it's the only ones capable of issuing social grants. 

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The Post Office also indicated it would be able to do the job and would be able to take over the system in one month.