Judge Ngoepe slams Bathabile Dlamini’s testimony during Sassa inquiry

RETIRED Judge Bernard Ngoepe has slammed the testimony of former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini during a probe into her conduct.

Ngoepe made the following remarks in his findings on Dlamini’s role in the social grants crisis:

● She unjustifiably answered ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t remember’ to important questions

● She would simply not answer other questions; and

● She gave long answers that did not relate to the question asked.

Ngoepe pointed out that at one stage he even questioned if the interpreter had correctly conveyed a question‚ but he had no doubt that Dlamini had understood the question given her command of English.

“She was too evasive to some questions. She would answer questions with questions‚” Ngoepe said.

A witness may not be criticised for seeking clarification but Dlamini had done so too often in response to clear questions, he added.

The inquiry was ordered by the Constitutional Court in order to determine culpability around the social grants crisis that erupted last year. Dlamini has until May 14 to respond to the findings.

She was accused of failing to ensure that the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) was equipped to administer social grants after a contract with Cash Paymaster Services was due to expire.

The court was forced to extend the contract‚ even though it had been found illegal.

The Ngoepe inquiry saw Dlamini facing off with former senior staff members‚ including former Sassa CEO Thokozani Magwaza and former director general Zane Dangor.

Magwaza accused Dlamini of running Sassa like her own shop‚ while she blamed him for being the source of Sassa’s problems. —