Sassa boss in hot water over letter to post office

IN THE midst of a potential social grant crisis, the recently appointed chief executive of the SA Social Services Agency (Sassa) is facing suspension for allegedly defying Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.

The agency’s chief executive, Thokozani Magwaza, allegedly wrote to SA Post Office chief executive Mark Barnes requesting that the struggling parastatal take over the distribution of social grants when the Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) contract expires next month. The Constitutional Court ruled in 2014 that the CPS contract had been awarded irregularly.

Magwaza allegedly tried to withdraw the letter when Dlamini became aware of it. The letter was allegedly sent after the deadline for the submission of bids. The post office is one of the bidders. A Sassa insider said Dlamini was so livid with Magwaza’s actions that she did not include him in a delegation which met President Zuma on Sunday. The meeting was apparently to brief Zuma on the grants payment debacle.

Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant said the department first had to establish the authenticity of the letter before deciding on the course of action.

“It would be equally important for the minister to have an audience with Mr Magwaza to hear if he has any knowledge of the letter, as this is the first time the letter has been brought to her attention.”

In the letter, which The Mercury’s sister paper, The Star, has seen, Magwaza asks Barnes whether the Post Office would be able to help distribute the social grants from next month: “… A transitional arrangement could be entered into through an intergovernmental agreement, which would not necessarily require procurement process.”

Responding to The Star’s queries, Magwaza confirmed the authenticity of the letter, but said there was “absolutely nothing wrong” with this.

Barnes could only confirm submitting a request for information (bid) and remained mum on receiving the letter.

Siya Qoza, Postal and Telecommunications Department spokesperson, said the department was happy that the parastatal had submitted bids.

“We believe it’s in line with the turnaround Information and Communications Technology policy and will play a significant role in the delivery of services.”