SASSA again asks for extension of unlawful CPS contract
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has approached the Constitutional Court once again requesting an extension of its unlawful contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS).
SASSA's spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, says the request is to allow a smooth transition between the CPS and the Post Office, which will take over the social grants payment contract.
"The intention is to make sure the systems do not collapse come the end of the current contract. The current payment contractor will work with the Post Office to ensure there is a smooth handover," says Letsatsi.
In March 2017 the court ruled that the invalid contract with CPS should be extended for 12 months until the agency could find alternative payment partners.
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An inquiry is currently investigating whether Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini should be held personally liable for the social grants crisis.
"We want to make sure that in terms of management and in terms of the transitional period that CPS is able to transfer all the particular functions to the South African Post Office so that people get paid without any glitches," adds Letsatsi.
He says they will now wait for the court to respond.
SASSA has asked for an extension of the current contract untill September 2018.