DA to lay charges against Bathabile Dlamini for allegedly lying under oath

The party says she has been allowed to escape accountability for too long and must be charged to face the consequences.

Then minister Bathabile Dlamini was held personally responsible for the Sassa crisis. Picture: Gallo Images

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will lay charges against then Minister for Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini for allegedly lying under oath.

This comes after the Constitutional Court last week handed down a scathing judgement calling Dlamini “reckless and grossly negligent” and requested that the National Prosecuting Authority consider whether she should be prosecuted for lying under oath.

The DAs Bridget Masango will lay criminal charges against Dlamini on Wednesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Masango said: “It is clear that Dlamini is not fit for office and the DA has given President Cyril Ramaphosa until Friday, 5th October to remove her from his cabinet.”

DA leader Mmusi Maimane last week called for Ramaphosa to fire Dlamini and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, failing which the party would approach the courts to force the president to do so.

Masango said in a statement: “Dodging Dlamini has been allowed to escape accountably by the failing ANC for too long. She must be charged to face the consequences of putting the lives of millions of vulnerable South Africans at risk. These criminal charges are but one step the DA is taking to ensure that justice prevails.”

Following the ConCourt ruling that ordered Dlamini to pay 20% of Black Sash and Freedom Under Law’s legal costs, which run into millions, there have been growing calls for Ramaphosa to sack Dlamini.

These calls also came from the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

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