Worst crisis since 1994
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is no slouch when it comes to reorganising his cabinet. He acts decisively – sometimes too much so. Which is why it is strange that Minister for Social Development Bathabile Dlamini remains in her post.
The news agenda has been dominated by the Sassa debacle, as the clock ticks inexorably down to the deadline in 19 days’ time. On April 1, 17 million South Africans – just under a third of our population – will expect to have their social security grants paid out to them. It is not hyperbole to say that our country is facing its greatest crisis since the advent of democracy in 1994.
The evidence that emerged last week paints a picture of a catastrophe that was entirely avoidable, but appears to have come about through a toxic two-handed approach of inappropriate interference, offset by a Nero-like indifference, by the minister herself.
And yet, notwithstanding her arrogance before Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts last week, which would have been comical had the consequences not been so tragic, she remains in her post. She does so at a time when several public servants around her have left in absolute despair.
The broader government’s response has been worrying, too. We’re told not to worry, that there is a plan at hand, but we aren’t told the details. This offers little comfort to millions of families who rely on social grants to survive – grannies who have to feed their orphaned grandchildren, those who can’t earn a living as their disabilities make it impossible for them to work, and the aged who were never privileged to get jobs that could afford them a chance to save for their twilight years.
The only conclusion we can draw is that this has been a cynically created crisis to ensure that the current unlawful contract enjoyed by Cash Paymaster Services is extended, because the alternative is too appalling to contemplate.
The question in everyone’s minds is: Who benefits from this state of affairs?
As we read last week, the tender to administer the payment of social grants in this country is gargantuan, an absolute honey pot for potential corruption. The longer Dlamini remains in office, with all the fingers pointing at her, there appears to be a tacit admission that her incompetence was not tolerated but, indeed, approved.
This is a very dangerous message to send out to the country – a country where greedy public servants pocket millions of taxpayers’ money every year at the expense of the poor. This sends a message that South Africa’s poor, marginalised people don’t matter.