Call to charge Dlamini over Sassa
SOCIAL Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini must be held personally liable for the costs of the looming social grants case because she prioritised ANC Women’s League business instead of dealing with the matter swiftly.
The DA has applied to intervene in lobby group Black Sash’s application for the Constitutional Court to re-instate its oversight role and ensure that social grants beneficiaries are paid from April 1.
In an explosive affidavit, DA federal chairman James Selfe said “this is an appropriate case for the minister and the CEO of the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) [Thokozani Magwaza] to be personally held liable for the costs involved”.
Citing Western Cape High Court Judge Owen Rogers’ judgment that set aside controversial former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s appointment in December, Selfe said the social grants crisis would not have happened had Dlamini and Magwaza acted with due diligence and care.
Rogers ordered Motsoeneng and acting SABC chief executive James Aguma to pay the DA’s legal costs from their own pockets.
According to Selfe, Dlamini violated her constitutional oath of office “in failing to be faithful to the Republic of South Africa and to obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of the republic, and to hold her office as minister with honour and dignity and to perform the functions of her office conscientiously and to the best of her ability”.
Selfe said Dlamini misled parliament in May during her department’s budget vote when she ought to have reasonably known that there were no plans in place for Sassa to take over paying grants.
Non-profit entity Freedom Under Law has also applied to intervene in the matter. –