Ministers hauled to court in Sassa pay dispute

THREE ministers have been hauled before the Labour Court for failing to honour its ruling, ordering them to negotiate with unions representing SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) employees over wage increases.

The latest legal action comes as millions of social grant beneficiaries were expected to find out today whether there will be a repeat of the glitches experienced a month ago.

On Friday, Mfoloe Incorporated, the lawyers representing the Public Servants Association (PSA), notified the union that they have dispatched letters to Social Development Minister Susan Shabangu and her Finance and Public Service and Administration counterparts, Nhlanhla Nene and Ayanda Dlodlo, respectively.

“We further wish to confirm that a letter will be dispatched to the three ministers placing them on terms and further alerting them of our intended court action,” reads the letter from Pogiso Mfoloe, of Mfoloe Incorporated.

The PSA believes the three ministers are in contempt of the labour court ruling, after Shabangu’s urgent attempt to interdict strike action by Sassa employees failed.

Dlodlo instructed Sassa to implement the public service wage agreement, which the PSA maintains does not extend to the agency’s employees because they negotiate at a separate bargaining council.

Yesterday, the union’s attorneys were due to consult advocate Smanga Sethene at his chambers in Sandton.

“It is therefore our client’s instruction that an application be launched to compel and declare the ‘determination’ not relevant or applicable to Sassa and the relevant ministries to go to the negotiation table as per the court order of July 4, 2018.

“It is common cause that Sassa has done everything in its power to frustrate the process,” said Mfoloe.

Sassa and the SA Post Office have reassured the almost 700 000 beneficiaries that August’s payment cycle will be without the glitches that were experienced at the beginning of July.

PSA deputy general manager Tahir Maepa told Independent Media that the ministers had refused to engage, despite the Labour Court ordering them to return to the negotiating table.