SAHRC requests urgent meeting with minister Bathabile Dlamini
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, and the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Thokozani Magwaza.
SAHRC spokesperson Gail Smith says the organisation needs clarity on the payment of social grants by SASSA come April 1.
“We are extremely concerned that 17 million families might not receive their social grants. It’s a great concern for us, we want to know what plans SASSA has to ensure the grants are paid out,” says Smith.
There is uncertainty over the payment of social grants, with the contract between SASSA and grant distributor Cash Paymaster Service (CPS) due to lapse at the end of March. SASSA went to the Constitutional Court to ask that it be allowed to extend its contract with CPS for a year, but later withdrew the application.
Smith says they sent a letter to the Minister and the CEO on Wednesday and have not received a response.
“More than half of all households in SA benefit from social assistance, and for 22% of these households, social grants are their main source of income,” she says.
She says it is the SAHRC’s mandate to promote and protect human rights and they have been monitoring the progress in relation to payment of social grant beneficiaries.
The social grants debacle has got South Africans talking. Are you or your loved ones affected? With the issue still up in the air - how do you feel at this point? Are you worried about the situation or are you confident the matter will be sorted out before April? Send a voicenote to the Newswatch Whatsapp number: 064 624 6161.