The DA wants Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu to be fired. Images: SASSA/DA/Facebook
SASSA: EFF slams Zulu for failure to pay social grants on time
Beneficiaries have received their social grants late or not at all in the last few months due to various issues affecting Postbank and SASSA.
The DA wants Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu to be fired. Images: SASSA/DA/Facebook
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has labelled Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu a failure as 150 000 beneficiaries have not been paid their SASSA social grants.
EFF WEIGHS IN ON FAILURE TO PAY SOCIAL GRANTS ON TIME
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which distributes social grants, had several issues in 2023, resulting in delayed payment of grants and many beneficiaries going without their grants for months.
The EFF said failure to pay grants on time is not a new phenomenon, and this leads beneficiaries to accrue debts from loan sharks to make ends meet.
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“Part of these failures can be attributed to the concerted effort to collapse the South African Post Office to surrender the disbursements of SASSA grants to the private sector.
“To make matters worse, it has been revealed that SASSA has paid more than R140 million to deceased beneficiaries over the last three years.”
The party said Zulu has been a complete and utter failure as the minister of Social Development and is presiding over the misery and starvation of people experiencing poverty in the country who are solely dependent on social grants.
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ZULU REVEALS R140 MILLION PAID TO DEAD BENEFICIARIES
Meanwhile, Zulu told Parliament that 75 000 deceased beneficiaries received grant payments over the last three financial years.
Zulu revealed details in response to a written parliamentary question from the Democatic Alliance’s Jacques Smalle.
“This was due to beneficiaries being reported as dead to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) after proof of life was obtained from them by the Department of Social Development (DSD).
“Given the millions paid to deceased beneficiaries, Minister Zulu should consider moving proof of life checks closer to payment dates.”
DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridget Masango MP, said.
