ANC contradicts Zuma on ’embarrassing’ Sassa debacle

The ANC has come out to call for government to investigate those who have been “directly” involved in the Sassa debacle on Friday.

This after the Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) should continue to pay grants for 12 months from April 1 to ensure that 17 million vulnerable beneficiaries get their payments.

Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini was also asked to give reasons in an affidavit before the end of March for why she should not be held personally liable for the legal costs of this case, since she had failed in her primary role as a minister, leading to this unnecessary legal action.

The court will play a strong oversight role over the next 12 months, in effect taking over the job from Dlamini.

CPS, among other things, has faced criticism for illegally making deductions from beneficiary accounts – the deductions are said to have happened in the form unsolicited airtime and funeral cover deductions.

The ANC said in a statement it was “unacceptable” and “embarrassing” “that such a critical aspect of our social security net, affecting the security and livelihood of the most vulnerable in our country, was not dealt with much better [and] in a speedy manner to avoid the unnecessary panic and anxiety caused.”

“The African National Congress welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court today to extend the contract relating to the payment of social grants for 12 months – ensuring that beneficiaries will be paid on the 1st April 2017 and uninterrupted for a period of a year.

“The ANC holds the view that the regrettable events over the past few weeks were unnecessary and should have never happened. Accordingly, we call on the Department of Social Development to immediately initiate a process to right the wrongs committed and fully comply with the directives of the Constitutional Court and the prescripts of the law.

“The ANC further calls for harsh consequence management as a deterrent to a repeat of this matter. Government must thoroughly investigate actions of those involved and act decisively against those responsible for this embarrassing and undesirable situation.”

Dlamini has been squarely blamed for creating the “self-made crisis” that has caused a contract declared invalid in 2013 to be continued.

However, responding to question in parliament on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said there was no crisis at Sassa, and he would not fire the minister because she hadn’t been found guilty on anything as yet.