President Jacob Zuma has apologised for the anxiety caused by the Sassa crisis and has decided to personally lead the inter-ministerial committee on social security.
On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) must continue to pay the 17 million beneficiaries to avert what Judge Johan Froneman called a potential catastrophe.
The judgment rejected a demand by CPS for a two-year contract at an increased fee of R4.6 billion for the period.
It foresees a 12-month term and forbids the company’s use of beneficiaries’ personal data for financial gain.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini may have to pay a heavy price for her role in the crisis.
Dlamini was ordered by the court to provide reasons why she should not be held personally liable for the cost of all legal fees in the case.
In a statement issued by the presidency on Saturday, Zuma said “on behalf of government, I would like to welcome the pronouncement by the Constitutional Court on the distribution of social grants.
“I want to assure all grant beneficiaries that government will implement the directive of the Constitutional Court and uphold the constitutional rights of the poor and vulnerable in our society.”
Government would ensure that all beneficiaries received their social grants on April 1.
Zuma instructed the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on comprehensive social security to ensure that the order of the court was carried out and that necessary reforms to the social security system be made.
The committee was established last year and currently consists of Dlamini (co-chair), Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan (co-chair), Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
“I have now decided to lead and chair the committee and I have added the following new members,” said Zuma.
“These were Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Siyabonga Cwele, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
"The directors general of the departments of social development and the National Treasury would co-chair the technical task team and lead the IMC secretariat.
“Government deeply regrets the undue anxiety that resulted from the uncertainty over grant distribution. We apologise to South Africans unreservedly.”
The Democratic Alliance again called on Zuma to fire the minister, who is one of his key political allies.
But the president laughed this off in Parliament, saying: “I thought the date that we are talking about has not arrived, the first of April. This is another kind of democracy that if you think a person is going to fail or make a mistake you must punish them, it is a funny democracy.”