Bathabile Dlamini: I am not corrupt
The Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini, who is at the centre of the social grants debacle, has lashed out at the media.
Dlamini expressed her disappointment after allegations in a newspaper that she received money from Cash Paymaster Services in order to secure the tender to pay out social grants.
"For the past four years different media have been writing about this alleged relationship but none of these investigations are bringing forth anything new, but only speculation."
The Department of Social Development accused the Sunday Times of not getting their facts rights and failing to provide evidence that the minister received a bribe.
"To this end, the Department of Social Development requests accurate, fair and unbiased reporting. Media houses should know that they should be wary of unsubstantiated and fabrication of stories by disgruntled people who are themselves not innocent and were positioning themselves to gain from the payment of social grants."
This comes after the recent Constitutional Court battle regarding the payment of social grants. The contract between the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) and CPS was declared unlawful in 2014, but extended for a further 12 months by the Constitutional Court to ensure grants are paid.
The Democratic Alliance
https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/maimane-bathabile-dlamini-useless-drunkard/
(DA) has laid a complaint with the Public Protector, asking her to investigate the relationship between Minister Dlamini and CPS. But the department says the Hawks have already probed the matter.
"A proper investigation by the Public Protector would bring an end to the pseudo-investigations by every other person who is not interested in the truth and the objectivity, fairness they should be guided by. The Constitutional Court has made its ruling, every social grant beneficiary was paid as has always been the case but it looks like those who are desperate and with the agenda to tarnish the minister want to open the case afresh through the media," the minister says.
She adds that the investigation by the Hawks was closed in November 2015.