‘Myriad of serious issues’ – Why Sassa CEO Memela-Khambula has been suspended

South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula has been placed on suspension.

Memela-Khambula was placed on precautionary suspension on Tuesday with full pay, pending the outcome of the investigation into her appointment.

Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe said the decision was “prompted by the need to conduct an investigation without hindrance or interference”.

Suspension

Tolashe added that the Office of the Public Protector has raised a “myriad of serious issues” that have prompted her to take appropriate action as the executive authority over Sassa

Sassa said the decision was important to also protect Memela-Khambula’s dignity and integrity while Tolashe praised the “humility the CEO demonstrated when the decision to suspend her was communicated.”

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Acting CEO

Tolashe said all the decisions that have been taken are to “steer Sassa in the right direction and are taken in the best interest of the millions of beneficiaries that depend on social assistance.”

“Whilst we deal with a lot of challenges facing Sassa, we want to take decisive decisions that will ensure that our work is transparent, effective and efficient and we have an organization that will assist in fighting hunger and poverty in our country.”

Sassa said the Regional Executive Manager for Gauteng Themba Matlou  has since been appointed as the acting CEO until the matter involving Memela-Khambula has been concluded.

Challenges

Meanwhile, as Sassa prepares to pay out grants for December next week, officials have vowed to deal with challenges to ensure that recipients are treated well.

National and provincial representatives of Sassa briefed the Standing Committee on Social Development on services on Monday.

The officials provided revealed details of the current problems experienced by officials and the strategies in place to address those challenges .

Sassa faces allegation of fraud in its social relief grant system and claims of people collapsing in massively long queues at its various offices.

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