R151.6-billion allocated for social grants: Gordhan
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says there is no shortage of money when it comes to the payment of social grants.
Gordhan broke down National Treasury's role in resolving the SA Social Security Agency crisis.
"The total budget for social grants for 2017/18 is R151.6-billion - growing to R175.6-billion in 2019/20, that is the outer years," he said.
The Constitutional Court ruled in 2013 that the contract with Cash paymaster Services was invalid... ordering Social Development to initiate another tender. There's concern that the department will not be able to pay social grants at the beginning of next month.
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Gordhan says government has a duty to make the payments and a responsibility to do so within the law.
"If there's anyone who wants the opportunity to bid to do a particular piece of government work - must be allowed to do so, and be allowed to indicate what their costs will be - so that government can get best value - except where you get collusion like we had in the construction industry," he said.
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Gordhan added that in exceptional cases, deviations from competitive bidding processes can be followed - for emergencies like natural disasters; in instances where there are sole suppliers, and in other exceptional circumstances.
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