Sassa sinks ever deeper into mire

Another day, another SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) bombshell. This time, it has been revealed the agency responsible for paying social grants to more than 17 million people has spent almost R2 billion irregularly. According to the agency’s annual report, R1.7 billion in irregular expenditure has been rolled over from previous financial years. Worse yet, attempts to condone the expenditure have still not been resolved.

Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu didn’t mince his words, highlighting the failure of Sassa’s leadership to act against those responsible.

Sassa’s leadership hasn’t exactly covered themselves in glory, with former Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, now the minister in the presidency for women, justifiably criticised for her role in Sassa’s woes.

Yesterday, the DA laid charges of perjury against her and we wait for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to consider whether she should be prosecuted for lying under oath during her testimony at the Judge Bernard Ngoepe inquiry into the social grants crisis.

In a Constitutional Court judgment last week, Justice Johan Froneman stated Dlamini “did not act in good faith”, her “conduct was reckless and grossly negligent” and “she used her position as minister of the department to place herself between constitutionally enshrined rights and those entitled to them”.

Perhaps the most concerning revelation is Makwetu’s observation that “he can’t be sure R1.7 billion is a true reflection of the total irregular expenditure at Sassa because it doesn’t have proper systems in place to ensure it has all be captured”. So, in other words, it could be even worse. Very worrying indeed.