Bathabile Dlamini finally coughs up after Sassa debacle

Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini has paid over half a million rand out of her own pocket to settle a costs order handed down in the Constitutional Court in 2018.

The Centre for Applied Law Studies (CALS) announced the belated payment on Thursday.

Dlamini is believed to have settled the amount in the past two weeks.

CALS noted Dlamini’s tardiness in settling the outstanding bill, totalling about R650,000 and criticised Dlamini for ignoring letters of demand, changing attorneys and making “every effort to avoid paying” before settling.

Two years after the court ordered her to do so, Dlamini finally paid the two non-profit organisations (NPOS) that took her to task over the social grants debacle. “We have been gratified to note that in the past two weeks the order has now been complied with and Dlamini has paid our costs,” said CALS.

In the 2018 case, Black Sash and Freedom Under Law persuaded the apex court that Dlamini should pay out of her own pocket for her role in the social grants. Black Sash drew on adverse findings against Dlamini made by retired judge Bernard Ngoepe, who led an inquiry into the debacle with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS).

The matter relates to a case involving a tender to pay out social grants awarded to CPS that had expired — but was renewed repeatedly. Dlamini was accused of failing to ensure Sassa was capacitated to pay out grants after the contract with CPS expired. The apex court deemed Dlamini’s conduct reckless and negligent, which was sufficient reason for a personal costs order.

Justice Johan Froneman, who wrote the unanimous judgment of 2018, said Dlamini was culpable for misleading the court, so it was proper that she should personally pay for her role in the “sorry saga” around social grants.

Sassa and its CEO were made to pay the lion’s share of the costs, while Dlamini was ordered to pay 20% of the bill.