Bathabile Dlamini says she’ll abide by ConCourt ruling, says ‘I’m sorry’

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini on Friday morning reportedly said she would respect and adhere to the Constitutional Court’s ruling ordering Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to continue paying welfare grants to some 11 million South Africans for another year.

Dlamini has once again apologised for the debacle over the payment of grants by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), TimesLIVE reports.

The minister reportedly said her staff were still studying the judgment‚ but she was pleased for the people of South Africa.

The majority judgment, written by Justice Johan Froneman, said the highest court in the land was acting to safeguard a constitutional right and avert “a catastrophe” – a damning indictment against Dlamini, who exercises oversight over the grants agency.

The court said it had to step in because the executive had failed in its constitutional duty and ordered the minister to explain to the court why she should not be held personally liable for the cost of the case.

According to the TimesLIVE report, speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Kempton Park‚ Dlamini made assurances that grants would be paid come April 1.

“I have a close friend‚ a young man who always listens when I speak and he will phone me if I say something wrong.

“He called me on Tuesday‚ and told me I had missed an important opportunity to say sorry.

“The first thing I was supposed to do is to apologise to South Africans. And I thought that was profound. I also want to again repeat‚ I am so sorry,” Dlamini was quoted as saying.

ALSO READ:

//