‘Dlamini’s toxic influence riled CEO’

Top official pushed for fighting the rot – opposition parties

Sassa CEO Thokozani Magwaza’s resignation is a result of a “toxic” influence that Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has, the DA said yesterday.

The party said it was sadden by Magwaza’s departure and will write to Dlamini for an explanation. “[This] is yet another damning indication of the toxic influence that Minister Bathabile Dlamini has on Sassa and the Department of Social Development.

“Magwaza is now the second senior official, after former DG Zane Dangor, who was coerced into resigning after his family’s safety was threatened,” said DA’s shadow minister for social development Bridget Masango.

“This entire debacle has been constructed by Dlamimi and is yet another example of the minister’s dodgy way of running the department to the detriment of millions of South Africans.”

The IFP also weighed in, saying the matter has exposed Dlamini’s “questionable” actions. “Magwaza has since received death threats, apparently from members of the ruling party in KwaZuluNatal, which is a clear indication that he is being punished for exposing the minister’s questionable practises as the head [of the department],” said the party’s MP Liezl van der Merwe.

“All those who have spoken out against the immoral and unlawful contract that government continues to hold with CPS [Cash Paymaster Services] have now left the department. All pushed out for speaking out.”

Spokesman for the EFF Mbuyiseni Ndlovu blamed the corrupt calibre of government officials under President Jacob Zuma. “Magwaza was an ethical person who had been successfully pushed for being a stabling block against corruption.

“The Zuma camp wants to use this opportunity to loot as quickly as they can because they don’t know if they will still have jobs after the vote of motion of no confidence against Zuma in August,” said Ndlozi.

Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said once again‚ as in many state entities‚ a hard-working ethical person has been removed.

Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said Dlamini should have been the one resigning instead.