Dlamini must go immediately‚ say DA and COPE.

PRESSED: Social Development

 Minister Bathabile Dlamini 

Image by: Business Times

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini should be removed immediately‚ says the Democratic Alliance‚ adding that she cannot be trusted with the livelihoods of 17 million poor and vulnerable South Africans.

The comment comes on the heels of the disclosure that the director-general of the social development department‚ Zane Dangor‚ has resigned‚ citing as the reason "a breakdown in the relationship between myself and the minister on the management of the processes towards ensuring grants are paid".

Dangor’s departure‚ just four months since his appointment‚ is a shattering blow to hopes that social grants — relied upon by 17 million people — will continue being paid after the South African Social Security Agency’s contract with Cash Paymaster Services ends on March 31.

In an astonishing broadside at Dlamini on Saturday‚ Themba Godi‚ the chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts‚ charged that her department was “clearly falling apart” and said she must shoulder the full responsibility for the grants debacle.

Responding to Dangor's resignation‚ DA spokesperson on social development Bridget Masango‚ said this was “yet another sign of the Social Development Minister’s destructive and toxic influence and should see her removed immediately”.

“The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development‚ Rosemary Capa‚ to request that she invite Mr Dangor to come before the committee to detail what has been taking place‚” Masango said.

“Dlamini has utterly failed to ensure that SASSA was ready to take over the distribution of grants at the end of this month when the current invalid CPS contract comes to an end and has allowed the situation to reach crisis point.

TMG Digital.

Full story at Times Live.