Zuma must take Sassa debacle seriously

Faith in the integrity of government is lost, writes Mohamed Saeed of Pietermaritzburg.

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant payments fiasco is yet another example of apparent ineptness and a lack of sufficient knowledge, training and skilled leadership needed in handling this important portfolio.

Putting about 17 million vulnerable people into unnecessary anxiety is not just an inconvenience, it is truly sad, unacceptable and borders on a criminal action as millions of poor South Africans will face debilitating hunger.

It’s time the president took the inconvenience a lot more seriously due to the effects it will have on millions of beneficiaries.

Its repercussions are far more than just the distribution of social grants. Sassa as an important government department and as an organisation entrusted with the colossal task of attending to the needs of the poorest and most desperate human beings, should function in an efficient and resourceful manner.

The Sassa debacle again highlights the need to increase the struggle to stop corruption and mismanagement in some government departments.

Councillors and civil servants must be employed based on merit and experience, not on skin colour, friends, family and political connections. Favouritism, cronyism and nepotism all interfere with service delivery because they give undue advantage to someone who is not necessarily worthy of the job.

Moreover, faith in the integrity of government is lost.