Concern at sudden quitting of Sassa boss after death threats

THE sudden resignation of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) chief executive Thokozani Magwaza has been questioned by the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), Corruption Watch and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).

Following reports that his life was under threat‚ Magwaza has left the organisation.

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini announced yesterday that she and Magwaza had agreed to terminate his services after a consultative process.

Magwaza clashed with Dlamini over the handling of the payment of social grants as the contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) was nearing its end on March 31.

He is likely to testify against Dlamini in a public hearing set up to probe whether she should be liable to pay the costs from her own pocket for the payment crisis.

Magwaza also recently cancelled work streams set up by Dlamini to seek a solution for grant payments after the Treasury said the R47-million spent on them was irregular.

He refused to comment about his departure from Sassa yesterday afternoon. Dlamini’s spokesman‚ Lumka Oliphant‚ did not want to expand on the statement.

Magwaza’s resignation also comes amid a Constitutional Court judgment that requires Sassa and the minister to report every three months on how they plan to ensure the payment of social grants in-house after the 12-month extension of CPS’s services.

Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said there were recent reports about Magwaza receiving death threats.

He said Magwaza had taken over the task of sorting out the mess at Sassa, and was leading negotiations with the Post Office to take over the payment of the grants from CPS.

Scopa chairman Themba Godi said the committee was shocked and upset about Magwaza’s resignation and hoped it would not derail the process of contracting the Post Office to take over grant payments.

Earlier‚ Godi said he had a long discussion with Magwaza about the alleged death threats.

Outa portfolio director Dominique Msibi said it appeared Magwaza was forced out as a result of death threats and tension with the minister.