Bathabile Dlamini to face the music in Parliament
The Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini is set to face the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in Parliament today regarding the Sassa debacle.
The matter relates to the payment of social grants to more than 17 million recipients after the Constitutional Court ruled that the appointment of service provider, Cash Paymaster Services, was unlawful.
The ruling was made in 2014 and the Constitutional Court gave the department three years to rectify the matter but the department has failed to do so.
Last week, Scopa had a meeting with the Department and Sassa in the absence of the Minister.
Dlamini briefed media on Sunday, but couldn't give clarity on the process that would unfold with collecting grants come the 1st of April.
She did however give the assurance that grants would be paid out.
The Scopa meeting was rescheduled after Dlamini failed to appear before the committee last week.
Scopa wants Dlamini to explain issues around the Cash Paymaster Services contract and what led to the current debacle.
They also want answers pertaining to irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Scopa chair, Themba Godi , says the committee will wait for Dlamini to appear before it, even if it takes the entire day.