ConCourt issues new directive to Dlamini, Sassa

Lawyers representing the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini have reportedly filed their responses with the Constitutional Court explaining why the officials had failed to meet a previous deadline set by the court.

According to eNCA reporter Karyn Maughan, they missed deadline to file their affidavits by 11 minutes.

Minister Dlamini and #SASSA lawyers file responses on why they missed court ordered deadlines – late. pic.twitter.com/ZkYy3fp18K

— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) March 14, 2017

Lawyers for Minister and #SASSA have just run into Concourt office. They missed deadline to file explanation by 11 minutes.

— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) March 14, 2017

Earlier today the ConCourt issued a new directive to Sassa and Dlamini asking them to explain why they had failed to meet Monday’s deadline to respond to questions sent by the court.

A notice from the registrar of the ConCourt, Kgwadi Makgakga, stated that the grant agency’s previous acting CEO of Sassa, Thamo Mzobe, current acting CEO Wiseman Magasela and Dlamini were ordered to file affidavits by 3pm on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the ConCourt directed Dlamini and Sassa to answer questions about the ongoing debacle over the payment of social grants to 17 million poor and vulnerable citizens on April 1 when current service provider, Cash Paymaster Services’ (CPS), current contract expires on March 31.

The terse notice also said further directives may be issued.

Officials from Sassa and social development failed to comply with the court’s directive. On Monday the department only filed its heads of arguments and a proposed draft order excluding affidavits indicating who should be liable for the grant crisis.

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